Poland sweeps Slovenia 3-0 in Milan to reach Men's European Volleyball Championship final

Straight-set victory in Milan

Defending champion Poland earned a place in the Men's European Volleyball Championship final after defeating Slovenia 3-0 at the Unipol Forum in Milan on Friday afternoon. The match ended with set scores of 25:23, 25:23, and 25:18 in favour of the Polish squad. This semi-final marked the fourth consecutive time Poland and Slovenia met at this stage of the European Championship, bringing their head-to-head semi-final record to 2-2. Poland entered the contest following consecutive 3-0 sweeps over Latvia in the round of 16 and Germany in the quarter-finals. Slovenia, coached by Fabio Soli, reached the last four after a 3-0 victory against Serbia and a 3-1 win over Belgium.

Turning point in the third set

The opening two sets featured tight exchanges, with Poland closing out each set at 25:23 after securing decisive points in the final rallies. In the second set, a crucial video challenge confirmed a key decision for Poland during the closing moments. Slovenia responded early in the third frame, opening a four-point lead at 11:7 and extending momentum through opposite hitter Nik Mujanović. Poland leveled the score at 12:12 following defensive stops and blocking contributions at the net from 217-centimetre middle blocker Bartłomiej Lemański. Outside hitters Wilfredo Leon and Tomasz Fornal produced points during a subsequent break that established a 23:18 lead before Poland closed the match.

Reactions from the Polish bench

Despite the straight-set result, Poland head coach Nikola Grbić noted areas for improvement ahead of the final while acknowledging Slovenia's strength.

We did not play our best volleyball and we were not at our best level, but we won 3:0 against a very strong opponent. I hope that tomorrow we will play better. When you win 3:0 without playing at your level, that is also very important. That is why I am very satisfied. Our team quality made the difference in the end.

Setter Marcin Komenda pointed to Poland's composure during Slovenian serving runs and transition attacks from three to four metres off the net. Outside hitter Tomasz Fornal echoed that sentiment while commending Slovenia's resilience throughout the contest.

It seems to me that we did not play outstandingly in this match, but you do not judge winners. We win 3:0, we are in the final, and tomorrow we face France or Finland. That is the most important thing, that we win in three sets, because not always playing ideally and beautifully, it is important that we win.

Championship final and Olympic berth

The 2026 European Championship is co-hosted across four nations: Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania. The final match takes place on Saturday, 26 September at 21:00 local time at the Unipol Forum in Milan. Poland will play the winner of Friday evening's second semi-final between France and Finland, while Slovenia moves to the third-place match scheduled for Saturday at 17:00. In addition to the continental title, the winner of Saturday's championship match earns direct qualification for the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles.