The France men’s national volleyball team fell short of a second continental crown on Saturday, September 26, 2026, falling 1–3 to Poland in the EuroVolley final at Milan, Italy. The French team put together a remarkable tournament run despite missing eight players from their Paris 2024 gold-medal roster, but ultimately ran into a Polish squad that captured its third European title.
Poland Stops France in Milan Final
A Video Review That Upended the Match
For over thirty minutes, the championship match hung on razor-thin margins. Playing in Milan, the Blues believed they had won the opening set 27–25, injecting real belief into their campaign for gold.
Yet the momentum shifted immediately following a coaching challenge from Poland manager Nikola Grbic. Reviewing the final action of the opening frame, officials caught a French hand grazing the net, overturning the point. Revived by the reprieve, Wilfriedo Leon and his Polish teammates capitalized on the opening, eventually closing out the first set 31–29 before dictating the pace of the match.
Red and Whites Claim Third European Title
Poland went on to secure the match, winning 25–19, 20–25, and 25–16 to take the gold medal. While other tournament favorites stumbled—most notably Italy, which suffered an exit in the quarterfinals against Finland—the Polish side embraced and validated their favoritism.
Speaking ahead of the final, Grbic noted the heavy expectations surrounding his squad back home, where supporters look for dominant 3–0 sweeps and a gold medal return. While Saturday’s final required four sets rather than a clean sweep, the Red and Whites delivered the country’s third European championship, after previous titles from 2009 and 2023.
Proving Depth After Paris Glory
Despite the silver medal finish, the French campaign proves the program's depth. Advancing through the bracket without eight gold medalists from their Paris 2024 triumph, the French roster proved its mettle against Europe’s elite before bowing to a disciplined Polish machine.
