North Macedonia sign off with a straight-set win as Israel suffer their worst EuroVolley performance, Bulgaria inflicted first defeat to Poland!

If you wish to publish an Italian translation of this article, any of our other articles, or ANY PART OF THEM, please cite the original source. PLAGIARISM IS ILLEGAL!

North Macedonia closed their CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 Men campaign with a first victory, defeating Israel in straight sets at Arena 8888 Sofia, 0-3 (21:25, 23:25, 22:25).
For Israel, it was undoubtedly their worst performance of the tournament, ending a campaign that had included moments of promise but ultimately fell short of qualification.

With North Macedonia already out of contention for the knockout stage, the match offered to Joško Milenkoski’s side an opportunity to finish their campaign on a positive note. Ans so they took that opportunity, producing a more consistent and efficient performance when the match entered its decisive moments.
North Macedonia established control early in the opening set, moving ahead 5–2, 8–4 and 10–5. Israel gradually found a response, reducing the deficit to 15–14 before levelling the score at 19–19. The North Macedonians, however, remained composed in the closing rallies and secured the set 25–20 with a powerful block.
Their superiority in attack was evident in the statistics, with North Macedonia recording 67% efficiency compared with Israel’s 48%. They also held an advantage in positive reception, 48% to 35%, while adding one block and one ace.
Israel started the second set with a 6–4 lead, but neither side managed to establish a consistent rhythm. At 12–12, the balance began to shift. Israel’s errors allowed North Macedonia to play with greater freedom, and a block gave Milenkoski’s team a 14–12 advantage.
North Macedonia maintained control at 16–13 and 22–18, although Israel mounted a late challenge. The Israelis reduced the deficit to 22–21 and saved a set point at 24–23, but North Macedonia held their nerve to close out the set 25–23.
Israel again made the better start in the third, moving 5–3 ahead. North Macedonia responded quickly, bringing the score level at 7–7 and then remaining within touching distance through 10–9 and 15–14. The decisive shift came when North Macedonia moved 17–15 ahead and took command of the closing exchanges, completing the straight-set victory.
North Macedonia finished with a 55% to 45% advantage in attack and led positive reception 56% to 50%. They also served three aces without conceding one, while both teams recorded five kill blocks.
Israel’s 19 unforced errors proved costly, including ten in the third set alone. North Macedonia committed 17 errors but were more effective in the moments that mattered.

Nikola Gjorgiev led the winners with 20 points to his name through 63% in attack and 1 block, followed by Stojan Iliev with 14, while Shay Liberman was once again Israel’s top scorer with 21 points through 63% in attack, and the latest to surrender.

“We are happy and satisfied because we showed how we can play our game. It was a nice performance, and we finished the championship with a good game. The Macedonian fans were so loud that we could feel their energy, and this definitely helped us today,” said middle blocker Filip Savovski.

For Israel, the defeat brought a frustrating conclusion to a tournament in which they had shown clear signs of progress. They had taken a set from Ukraine and defeated Portugal, but their final performance in Sofia lacked the consistency and composure needed to challenge North Macedonia.

“We are a small country with a lot of ambition. We try to do our best. About the game today, it was difficult. Everybody expected us to win, and we learned our lesson. Everyone can lose, everyone can play badly, and everyone can be amazing,” said setter Noam Ariel.

North Macedonia finish Pool B with their first victory, while Israel end their EuroVolley campaign without advancing to the knockout stage.
Portugal, meanwhile, take the fourth and final qualifying place from the group.
For both teams, the tournament is over. But North Macedonia leave Sofia with a result that offers a positive conclusion, while Israel will have to reflect on a final performance that fell well below the level they had shown earlier in the competition.

In the other clash of the day, which also marked the end of the Pool phase in Sofia, host nation Bulgaria locked horns with reigning champions Poland.
In an amazing five sets battle, Poland suffered first defeat at the tournament, 2-3 (25:20, 29:31, 23:25, 25:19, 18:20).
The battle lasted 144 minutes and, in front of a packed Arena 8888 Sofia and 13,000 passionate supporters, the Bulgarians secured a memorable victory.

Bulgaria made the brighter start, moving 6–4 ahead, but Poland soon found their rhythm at the net and turned the score around to lead 9–7. Despite service pressure from Simeon Nikolov and the attacking threat of Denislav Bardarov, Tomasz Fornal helped Poland extend their advantage to 16–11. The reigning champions remained in control and took the opening set 25–20, helped by their superiority in kill blocks (3–1) and fewer unforced errors (four compared to Bulgaria’s eight). Bulgaria, however, held a clear advantage in positive reception, 60% to 29%.
Poland again started strongly in the second set, establishing a 6–2 lead. Bardarov and Alex Grozdanov responded with a four-point run that brought Bulgaria back to within two points at 10–8. Supported by Jakub Popiwczak’s excellent defensive work, Poland restored their five-point advantage at 15–10, but the hosts refused to surrender and levelled the score at 15–15.
The two teams traded points in a tense battle that eventually went beyond the regular 25-point mark. With Bulgaria leading 28–27, Martin Atanasov produced a crucial ace, and the hosts eventually secured a marathon 31–29 win to draw level. Bulgaria also held the statistical advantage in the set, out-attacking Poland 58% to 52% and recording a 50% to 39% edge in positive reception.
Poland responded with a strong start to the third set, but Bulgaria gradually regained control. Preslav Petkov’s service turn produced four consecutive points and put the hosts 15–14 ahead. Bartłomiej Lemański levelled the score at 16–16, yet powerful attacks from Bardarov and important points from Aleks Nikolov kept Bulgaria in front.
An ace from Bartłomiej Bołądź brought Poland level once again at 21–21, setting up a thrilling duel between Nikolov and Fornal. With the score tied at 23–23, Nikolov delivered two consecutive kills to close out the set 25–23 and put Bulgaria ahead for the first time in the match.
Poland regrouped in the fourth set after falling 5–3 behind. Strong serving from Kamil Semeniuk and Fornal, combined with effective block-defence transitions, helped the visitors build a 15–10 lead. Moni Nikolov reduced the deficit with an ace, but Lemański continued to apply pressure from the service line as Poland moved 23–17 ahead. The reigning champions then closed out the set 25–19 to force a deciding fifth set.
Bulgaria thrilled the home crowd by racing to an 8–4 lead in the tiebreak. Poland gradually fought their way back, taking advantage of a brief lapse in concentration from the hosts and setting up a tense finish. The final stages became a high-voltage exchange of points, but Bulgaria held their nerve. Aleks Nikolov and his teammates eventually secured the decisive set 20–18, completing a memorable victory in front of their home supporters.

Bulgaria finished the match with a clear advantage in attack, 57% to Poland’s 50%, while Poland dominated at the net with 13 blocks compared to Bulgaria’s eight. Both teams recorded seven aces and 46% positive reception. The hosts, however, committed considerably more errors, 42 compared to Poland’s 24.
Aleksandar Nikolov was the standout performer and top scorer of the match with as many as 36 points to his name, while for Poland, Kamil Semeniuk led the way with 22.

“I feel good. I’m happy with the way we played. I’m tired, but at the same time, I’m happy that we won. I expect the next match to be similar. It will be tough, but nobody is invited into our house. It will be difficult for them too, because we have a seventh player—13,000 people. Whoever comes here, better be ready,” said setter Simeon Nikolov.

“It was a tough game, and we expected it to be difficult. We had our chance to grab the victory, but Bulgaria played really well. Now we are waiting for the next game. We will be ready for a battle,” added outside hitter Kamil Semeniuk.

With the pool stage action concluded in Sofia, fans are already looking forward to exciting eight-finals matches: on Saturday, Poland will face Latvia and Bulgaria meet Germany.
On Sunday, the action will continue with Ukraine – Romania and France – Portugal.

__________________

🏐| CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 | Wednesday, September 16, 2026

POOL A📍PalaPanini Modena
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Sweden – Slovakia 3-1 (19:25, 25:23, 25:21, 25:19)
• 21.00 (Local Time) | Czech Republic – Slovenia 1-3 (26:24, 13:25, 25:27, 23:25)

🏐| POOL A STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Italy 12
2. Slovenia 9
3. Czech Republic 8
4. Greece 6
5. Sweden 4
6. Slovakia 0

👉🏼POOL B📍Arena 8888 Sofia
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Israel – North Macedonia 0-3 (21:25, 23:25, 22:25)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Poland – Bulgaria 2-3 (25:20, 29:31, 23:25, 25:19, 18:20)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

🏐| POOL B FINAL STANDINGS
1. Poland 13
2. Ukraine 12
3. Bulgaria 11
4. Portugal 4
5. North Macedonia 3
6. Israel 2

POOL C📍Nokia Arena Tampere
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Denmark – Serbia 2-3 (25:19, 25:21, 21:25, 23:25, 14:16)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | The Netherlands – Estonia 1-3 (25:27, 22:25, 25;18, 23:25)

🏐| POOL C STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Finland 10
2. Belgium 10
3. Serbia 7
4. Denmark 7
5. Estonia 3
6. Netherlands 2

POOL D📍 BT Arena Cluj Napoca
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Türkiye – Latvia 1-3 (24:26, 25:23, 24:26, 16:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | France – Romania 2-3 (25:16, 27:25, 20:25, 33:35, 12:15)

🏐| POOL D FINAL STANDINGS
1. France 13
2. Germany 11
3. Romania 9
4. Latvia 6
5. Türkiye 3
6. Switzerland 3

__________________

NEXT GAMES: Thursday, September 17, 2026

POOL A📍PalaPanini Modena
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Slovakia – Greece
• 21.05 (Local Time) | Italy – Slovenia
POOL C📍Nokia Arena Tampere
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Serbia – Belgium
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Finland – Estonia

__________________

👀|QUICK LINKS
• EuroVolley 2026 – Calendar
• EuroVolley 2026 – All News
• All International news 🗞️
• Multimedia
• Facebook
• Instagram

__________________