WCH 2025: all results of Tuesday. Finland and Belgium down France and Italy at tie break!

Article in collaboration Ivan (from Quezon City) and Danijel (from Pasay City) ©️Volleytimes.com

2025 FIVB Volleyball World Championship continued today with other 8 games and other verdicts.

In first match of the day, Brazil moved a step closer to the Round of 16 after a commanding 3-0 victory (25:11, 25:22, 25:18) over Czech Republic.
With six points from their first two Pool H matches, the three-time world champions can secure early qualification later today if Serbia fail to beat China in a conving way.
Alan de Souza led the winners balanced attack with 12 points, followed by Arthur Bento who added 11 and Judson Nunes with 10 while, on the other side of the net, Lukáš Vašina emerged as the match’s top scorer with 14 points, while Jan Galabov added 9.
Brazil will next face Serbia on Thursday, while Czech Republic look to rebound against China in a must-win clash.
After a tough opening loss to Czech Republic themselves, Serbia bounced back sweeping China 3-0 (25:18, 25:19, 29:27), led by Dražen Luburić who put down 17 points, while Pavle Perić and Aleksandar Nedeljković added 11 apiece. For China, Bin Wang scored 16 but couldn’t stop his team from slipping to a second defeat.
The win keeps Serbia in contention for a Round of 16 spot. In fact, a straight-sets victory against Brazil on Thursday would secure their place, though other results could still work in their favor.

“Now we have one last chance against Brazil,” Drazen Luburić said at the end of this game, “Let’s hope for the best.”

In Pool C, Argentina kept their campaign on track with a 3-1 (25:22, 23:25, 25:21, 25:18) win over Korea.
The South Americans, who had already been tested in their thrilling five-set opener against Finland, once again dropped a set but eventually proved to be too strong for today’s rivals.
The result lifts them to five points in their pool, leaving them on the verge of a Round of 16 spot.
Pablo Kukartsev led the charge with a match-high 21 points including three blocks, and two aces, closely followed by outside hitter Luciano Vicentín who added 20, while Luciano Palonsky tallied 12.
For Korea, Heo Subong was the most prolific player with 17 points, while Im Donghyeok added 15.
Korea, winless after two matches, are officially now out of contention for the elimination rounds.
Argentina, meanwhile, would have ensured qualification if France would have defeated Finland today.
However, the 2025 World Championship delivered another huge upset as Finland stunned reigning Olympic champions France in a tense five-set battle!
The underdogs showed resilience and sharp defense to down the rivals with the score of 3-2 (25:19, 17:25, 29:27, 21:25, 15:9).
With this result, Finland moved up to third place in Pool C with three points and kept their chances alive for the knockout stage. A straight-sets victory against Korea in their final group match would secure their passage to the round of 16. France, on the other hand, sitting second in the pool with four points, now face a must-win clash against Argentina on Thursday.
Joonas Mikael Jokela led the winners with 20 points including 3 aces, well supported by Luka Marttila who added 15 and Petteri Tyynismaa, who also contributed with 13 including 5 winning blocks. Jean Patry scored 23 points including 4 aces and 2 blocks for France, while Yacine Louati added 17 and Barthelemy Chinenyeze 12 including 3 blocks.

In hard-fought Pool A in Pasay City, Iran down Tunisia 3-1 (23:25, 25:20, 25:23, 25:16) while the Philippines made history, claiming their first-ever World Championship win with a dramatic 3-1 (29:27, 23:25, 25:21, 25:21) triumph over Egypt!
Fueled by an excited home crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the hosts overcame nerves and a tense start to seize well-deserved victory that leaves all four Pool A teams—Philippines, Egypt, Iran, and Tunisia—locked at 1-1 with 3 points in the standings, setting up a thrilling final round of group matches.
Captain Bryan Bagunas led the charge scoring a match-high 25 points, Leo Ordiales added 21, while Marck Espejo tallied with 13 points.
For Egypt, Seif Abed top-scored with 15 points, while middle blocker Mohamed Osman Elhaddad Hamada left the court with 14.
With do-or-die clashes ahead, Philippines vs. Iran and Egypt vs. Tunisia, Pool A, once seen as the weakest with Iran as clear favourite, has now become one of the most unpredictable and interesting groups of the tournament.

In Pool F in Quezon City, Ukraine sweep Algeria with a clean 3-0 (25:17, 25:12, 25:11) while Belgium down Italy in a thrilling Thrilling five-sets-clash.
Defending world champions came up short against today’s rival in a dramatic showdown, losing 2-3 (23:25, 20:25, 25:22, 25:21, 13:15) after a closely contested clash.
Italy’s coach Ferdinando De Giorgi confirmed the same starting lineup used in the opener against Algeria, with Simone Giannelli as setter, Yuri Romanò as opposite, Alessandro Michieletto and Mattia Bottolo outside hitters, Simone Anzani and Gianluca Russo in the middle, and Fabio Balaso libero.
Belgium, under coach Emanuele Zanini, lined up with Stijn D’Hulst at setter, Ferre Reggers as opposite, Sam Deroo and Jolan Rotty outside hitters, Pieter Coolman and Wout D’Heer middle blockers, and Robbe Lantsoght libero.
Belgium secured the opening two sets before Italy responded by winning the third and fourth to extend the match until decisive tie break, in which Belgium held a narrow lead in the final points to close the match 15-13.
Ferre Reggers led the winners with 20 points, while Sam Deroo also contributed with 15. Yuri Romanò and Alessandro Michieletto scored 18 and 17 points respectively on the other side of the net.

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🌏| 2025 FIVB World Championship | Pool Stage

👉🏼Tuesday September 16, 2025

Pool H | 📍 Pasay City
• 10.00 (Local Time) | Brazil – Czech Republic 3-0 (25:11, 25:22, 25:18)

Pool C | 📍 Quezon City
• 10.30 (Local Time) | Argentina – Korea 3-1 (25:22, 23:25, 25:21, 25:18)

Pool A | 📍 Pasay City
• 13.30 (Local Time) | Iran – Tunisia 3-1 (23:25, 25:20, 25:23, 25:16)

Pool F | 📍 Quezon City
• 14.00 (Local Time) | Ukraine – Algeria 3-0 (25:17, 25:12, 25:11)

Pool A | 📍 Pasay City
• 17.30 (Local Time) | Philippines – Egypt 3-1 (29:27, 23:25, 25:21, 25:21)

🏐| POOL A STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Tunisia 3
2. Iran 3
3. Egypt 3
4. Philippines 3

Pool C | 📍 Quezon City
• 18.00 (Local Time) | France – Finland 2-3 (19:25, 25:17, 27:29, 25:21, 9:15)

🏐| POOL C STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Argentina 5
2. France 4
3. Finland 3
4. Korea 0

Pool H | 📍 Pasay City
• 21.00 (Local Time) | Serbia – China 3-0 (25:18, 25:19, 29:27)