The 2026 CEV EuroVolley European Championships delivered one of its biggest shocks on 24 September 2026, as Finland stunned Italy 3-2 in a five-set thriller that swung on serve, block and sheer nerve. In a match that many had circled as a routine Italian assignment, the Finns produced a disciplined, fearless performance to take the tie 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12 and leave one of the tournament favourites facing uncomfortable questions about their consistency in long matches.

Match Overview

Played in front of a loud, neutral-heavy crowd that quickly adopted Finland as its second team, the contest was everything a European Championships pool-stage classic should be: tight scorelines, long rallies, and a final set that could have gone either way until the very last exchanges.

• Competition: CEV EuroVolley 2026 – European Championships (Pool Phase)
• Fixture: Italy vs Finland
• Date: 24 September 2026
• Final result: Italy 2–3 Finland
• Set scores: 23-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 12-15
• Total points: Italy 106 – Finland 110

Italy, the more decorated side and a perennial contender for European and world honours, arrived as clear favourites. Finland, a programme that has steadily climbed the continental ladder, arrived with nothing to lose and everything to prove. Over two hours of volleyball, that combination proved decisive.

How Finland Pulled Off the Upset

Finland's victory was not built on a single hot hand. It was built on service pressure and defensive stubbornness, two areas where Italy have historically dictated terms. The Finns served aggressively from the very first set, targeting the Italian reception line and forcing the Azzurri into predictable, high-ball attacking situations.

That strategy paid off most visibly in the fifth set. With the tie locked at 2-2 and the momentum seemingly with Italy after a composed fourth-set finish, Finland refused to blink. They broke early with a two-point cushion, defended it through a series of scrambling digs, and closed out the match with their most efficient attacking set of the night.

Just as important was Finland's emotional control. Five-set matches at the European Championships are usually decided by who handles the pressure of a 12-12 scoreline. On this night, that was Finland.

Set-by-Set Breakdown

Set 1 – Finland 25-23: The tone was set immediately. Finland matched Italy point for point, and a late blocking surge gave them a narrow opening-set lead that visibly rattled the favourites.

Set 2 – Italy 25-22: Italy responded like a team of their pedigree, tightening their block and getting their opposite hitter into rhythm. A mid-set run of four straight points gave them the separation they needed to level the match.

Set 3 – Finland 25-21: The most surprising set of the night. Italy's reception wobbled, their transition attack stalled, and Finland pounced, converting defensive stops into quick points and building a lead they never surrendered.

Set 4 – Italy 25-23: A nerve-jangling set that featured eleven ties. Italy's experience showed at the death, with two big serves and a closing block forcing the decider.

Set 5 – Finland 15-12: Finland took control at 6-4 and never let go. Italy saved two match points, but a final Finnish attack through the middle ended it.

Key Moments

• The late block in set one: A roof-raising double block at 23-23 shifted a set Italy had looked likely to steal.
• Italy's set-two surge: A four-point run from 15-15 restored order and reminded everyone why the Azzurri are ranked among the world's elite.
• The defensive scramble at 11-10 in the fifth: A remarkable dig-and-counter sequence kept Finland ahead at the most vulnerable point of the match.
• The final swing: A quick attack through the middle sealed a result that will be replayed across Finnish volleyball coverage for years.

Standout Performers

Finland's opposite hitter was the match's leading scorer, finishing with 23 points including four aces and three blocks, repeatedly punishing Italy whenever they over-committed to the outside. The Finnish outside hitters added 18 and 14 points respectively, while the middle blockers combined for nine blocks that disrupted Italy's quick game.

The setter's distribution was the quiet engine of the upset. Finland kept Italy guessing with a genuinely balanced attack, moving the ball to the pipe, the middle and both pins rather than leaning on one scorer in the clutch. The libero also deserves enormous credit, producing a string of digs in the backco