The Ukrainian U22 men's volleyball team has concluded its journey at the 2026 European Championship. In the final group stage match, the Ukrainians secured a convincing victory over Portugal, although this success was not enough to advance to the tournament's playoffs.
A victory for pride
Heading into the match against the Portuguese, the "blue and yellows" had already lost their mathematical chances of advancing to the next stage. Despite a bright triumph over Poland in the previous round, the team trailed the group leaders in points. Therefore, the match against the group's underdog was purely a matter of prestige.
Their opponent, the Portugal national team, entered the match with a minimal record. They had only one point in their tally, earned in a tie-breaker against Poland following a loss to Israel.
Match progression: dominance and missed opportunities
The match began under the full control of the Ukrainian team. The players instantly seized the initiative, crushing their opponent in the first set with a score of 25:12. In the second set, the Ukrainians continued to dictate the terms of the game confidently, building a comfortable lead and securing the win — 25:22.
The third set proved to be the most difficult for the Ukrainians. The game was played on equal terms, and a score of 24:24 promised a prolonged struggle. However, in the decisive moment, the Portuguese proved stronger, snatching the set with a score of 26:24.
Despite losing the set, the youth team did not allow their opponents to drag the match into a fifth, deciding set. Thanks to a solid advantage in the middle of the fourth set, the Ukrainians "finished off" their opponent with a score of 25:23, securing a final victory of 3:1.
Group stage results
Having won two out of three matches, the Ukrainian U22 team finished the group round with 5 points to their name, taking third place in Pool A. According to the competition regulations, Poland and Israel advanced to the semi-final round, having scored 6 points each. The Ukrainians were short by just one point to continue their fight for medals.
