France stop Finland’s fairytale and set up Olympic final rematch with Poland!

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France have ended Finland’s extraordinary EuroVolley run and secured their place in the European Championship final. The Olympic champions defeated Olli Kunnari’s side 3-1 (25:17, 18:25, 25:18, 25:15) in Milan, putting an end to one of the most remarkable stories of the tournament and setting up a final against reigning European champions Poland.

The result means that Saturday’s gold-medal match will bring back memories of Paris.
Two years after France defeated Poland in the Olympic final at the Paris 2024 Games, the same two nations will meet again, this time with the European title at stake — and with a direct European quota for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games also awaiting the winner.

Finland arrived in the semi-final carrying the momentum of a campaign that had already exceeded every expectation. After winning the European League for the second consecutive year and reaching the EuroVolley knockout phase, the Finns eliminated Greece before producing the biggest result of their tournament by defeating hosts and reigning world champions Italy in a dramatic five-set quarter-final in Turin.
Against France, however, they faced a team with considerably more experience of nights like this.
France established control early in the opening set. Finland stayed in the contest for stretches, but the Olympic champions gradually created the separation they needed and closed out the first set 25-17.
The response from Finland was immediate. Rather than allowing the occasion to overwhelm them, the Finns rediscovered the confidence that had carried them past Italy. Their reception stabilised, their defence began to frustrate France and their attacking game became much more aggressive. The second set belonged to Finland, who levelled the match at 1-1 with a convincing 25-18.
For a moment, the sensation seemed capable of extending their fairytale all the way to the final.
France, however, refused to allow the match to follow the script that had been written in Turin, and Andrea Giani’s team regained control in the third set, applying increasing pressure from the service line and at the net while forcing Finland into more difficult situations.
The French took the set 25-18 and moved within one victory of the final.
From there, the experience of the Olympic champions became increasingly evident. France did not give Finland another opportunity to build momentum, taking command of the fourth set and maintaining their advantage all the way to 25-15.

Mathis Henno was at the centre of the French performance. The young outside hitter finished as the match’s leading scorer with 21 points, including an exceptional 70% in attack, 1 block and 1 ace, and played a decisive role during the decisive stages. Théo Faure added 20 points, while Trévor Clévenot provided another important contribution as France completed the job.
For Finland, Luka Marttila finished with 13 points and Joonas Jokela with 12, but the Finnish attack could not maintain the level that had carried them through their historic quarter-final against Italy.
For Finland, the defeat is undoubtedly painful, but it does little to diminish what this team has achieved in Milan. Their appearance in the semi-finals was only the second in Finnish EuroVolley history, following their breakthrough run in 2007.
This generation has now gone considerably further than simply announcing itself as a promising young team: it has beaten established European powers, eliminated the reigning world champions and reached the final four of the continental championship.
France, meanwhile, remain on course for another major title after adding another impressive chapter to their post-Paris story. They now face Poland in a final that carries an obvious sense of déjà vu, but with a very different prize at stake.
The French beat Poland for Olympic gold in Paris in 2024.
Poland arrived in Milan as the reigning European champion and reached the final by defeating Slovenia 3-0 in Friday’s first semi-final. Now the two teams will meet again, this time with the European crown and a direct European ticket to Los Angeles 2028 on the line.
Finland and Slovenia will contest the bronze medal, while France and Poland will play for the title.

The Finnish fairytale has stopped one step short of the final. France, however, have made sure that another familiar Olympic rivalry will take centre stage in Milan — and this time, the European championship will be decided between the two teams that played for gold in Paris.

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🏐| CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 | SEMIFINALS

Friday Semptember 25, 2026
📍Unipol Forum Assago
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Poland 0-3 (23:25, 23:25, 18:25)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
👉🏼 21.00 (Local Time) | Finland – France 1-3 (17:25, 25:18, 18:25, 15:25)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

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