Winning start at Euro 2026: Ukraine beat Israel in four sets in volleyball

The Ukrainian national volleyball team opened the 2026 European Championship in confident fashion, defeating the Israeli side 3:1 in their first group-stage match. The team coached by head coach Raul Losano did not start the encounter without problems, but managed to turn the game around and see it through to victory — an important psychological signal ahead of the rest of the tournament. A detailed match breakdown and video review are available on the Sport RBC.UA website.

How the first set unfolded

The first set turned out to be the most dramatic and unpredictable. The Israelis got off to a significantly better start, and at one point even allowed themselves a five-point lead over their opponents. However, closer to the middle of the set the "blue-and-yellow" side managed to seize the initiative, level out the play, and ultimately snatch the set, laying the foundation for their subsequent advantage.

Set-by-set breakdown: comfort, a slip-up, and a final push

The second set went in a far more comfortable key for the Ukrainians — the team confidently controlled the game and converted that advantage into a 25:19 win. The third set brought a twist: the Ukrainians once again let their opponent back in, and Israel managed to take one set, bringing the intrigue back into the match. That said, in the fourth set the Israelis were given no chances — the "blue-and-yellow" side saw it through to victory and sealed the final score at 3:1.

The goal for the group stage

The group stage of the European Championship is played on a round-robin basis, so the Ukrainian national team still has four matches to play. The minimum, yet crucial, goal for the "blue-and-yellow" side is to finish in the top 4 of Group B, which will allow the team to advance to the play-offs. Beyond that, the competition continues under the familiar knockout format, where every point and every set will be decisive.

Calendar and upcoming opponents

The Ukrainian national team faces a tight schedule ahead: during the group stage the team is set to play against the national teams of North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Portugal, and Poland. As early as tomorrow, 11 September, at 16:00, the "blue-and-yellow" side will take on the Macedonians in their next match, which will continue the fight for a top-4 spot in the group and, as a result, for a place in the Euro 2026 play-offs.