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MatchesResults DetailsSetsPoints
RankTeamTotalWonLost3-03-13-22-31-30-3PtsWonLostRatioWonLostRatio
1POLAND550221000141543,7504533811,189
2SERBIA541121100121472,0004914321,137
3UKRAINE5320120027911,8184464461,000
4PORTUGAL52301112061012,833459502,914
5BELGIUM5141001214712,583408435,938
6GREECE5050002212615,400434495,877

Pool Positions Criteria

1st - Matches Won
2nd - Ranking Points (*Ranking points are awarded for the following results: 3-0 or 3-1: 3 points, 3-2: 2 points, 2-3: 1 point, 1-3 or 0-3: 0 points)
3rd - Match Sets Quotient/Ratio
4th - Match Points Quotient/Ratio
5th - ‘Head to Head’ Results

Daily Recaps

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Pool A

· Poland are the hosts of Pool A. The matches will be played at Tauron Arena in Krakow. Poland will also host matches in each knockout round, including both semi-finals, the bronze medal match and the gold medal match (to be played in Katowice).
· Poland make their 11th consecutive appearance at the European Championships, since they last failed to compete in 1999. They won the title in 2009 in Turkey.
· Poland have been runners-up at the European Championships on a record five occasions: 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983. They also finished third in 1967, 2011 and 2019.
· Poland won eight of their nine matches at the 2019 European Championships, with the only exception a 3-1 loss against Slovenia in the semi-finals. Of their eight wins, seven were in straight sets.
· Only one of the last 11 European Championships was won by a team playing the final on a home court. That was Italy's triumph at the 2005 event, defeating Russia 3-2 in the final in Rome.

· Belgium make their 17th appearance at the European Championships, and their sixth in a row. Their best performance was fourth in 2017 (in Poland).
· Only Finland (18, excludes 2021) have made more appearances at the European Championships without ever reaching the podium than Belgium (16, excludes 2021).
· Belgium finished ninth at the 2019 European Championships, losing 3-2 versus Ukraine in the round of last 16.
· Defending champions Serbia have won the European Championships three times: 2001 (as Yugoslavia), 2011 and 2019. Only Russia (14, including 12 as Soviet Union) and Italy (6) have won the event on more occasions.

· Serbia can become the first team to win consecutive European Championships since Italy in 2003 and 2005. Italy also won back-to-back editions in 1993-1995. This was also done by Soviet Union (1950-1951 and nine in a row from 1967 to 1987) and Czechoslovakia (1955-1958).
· Serbia (including Serbia and Montenegro) reached the podium at 10 of the last 13 European Championships. In this run, they only failed to record a top-three finish in 2003 (fourth), 2009 (fifth) and 2015 (seventh).
· Serbia goes into this tournament on a run of 10 consecutive wins at the European Championships, since a 3-2 defeat against Germany in the 2017 semi-finals.

· Ukraine are in the European Championships for the sixth time. It is the second time they have participated in consecutive editions, after 1993, 1995 and 1997.
· Ukraine's best result at the European Championships was sixth on their debut in the competition in 1993. They finished seventh in 2019 (lost in five sets versus Serbia in the quarter-finals).
· Ukraine have won 13 of their 31 matches at the European Championships. Their first victory in the competition was a 3-1 group phase win over Pool A opponents Poland in 1993.

· Greece make their 16th appearance at the European Championships. Their best result was third in 1987. They have not finished higher than sixth in their nine participations since (sixth in 2005).
· Only Bulgaria (29, excludes 2021), Finland (18, excludes 2021) and Belgium (16, excludes 2021) have made more appearances at the European Championships than Greece (15, excludes 2021) without ever winning the event.
· Greece won only one of their last eight matches at the European Championships, a 3-1 group phase win over Romania in 2019. They finished 16th in that edition.

· Portugal are in the European Championships for the sixth time and for the first time in consecutive editions. Their best result was fourth (out of six teams) in the first edition of the competition in 1948.
· Portugal were 20th out of 24 teams at the 2019 European Championships. Their sole win, a 3-1 group phase victory over Pool A opponents Greece, ended a run of eight consecutive defeats in the competition.
· Portugal have lost the opening set in each of their last nine European Championships fixtures, since a 3-1 group phase loss against Russia in the 2005 edition.

Pool B

· Czech Republic are the hosts of Pool B. Ostrava will also host matches in the round of last 16 and the quarter-finals.
· Czech Republic (including Czechoslovakia) took part in 28 of the 31 previous European Championships. They make their seventh consecutive appearance, since they last failed to compete in 2007.
· Czech Republic won the European Championships three times: 1948, 1955 and 1958 (all as Czechoslovakia). Only Russia (14, including 12 as Soviet Union) and Italy (6) have won the event on more occasions.
· Czech Republic's 63-year gold medal drought at the European Championships (1958-2021) is currently the longest among all countries to have won the competition at least once.
· Czech Republic's most recent podium at the European Championships was in 1985 (second as Czechoslovakia). They have not finished higher than fourth in their 15 participations since (fourth in both 1999 and 2001).
· Czech Republic finished 13th at the 2019 European Championships, losing in straight sets versus eventual champions Serbia in the round of last 16.

· Italy have won the European Championships six times: 1989, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2005. The only other team to be European champions on as many as six occasions is Russia (14, including 12 as Soviet Union).
· Italy's sixth and most recent European Championships success was in 2005 (as co-hosts). They defeated Russia in five sets in the final in Rome. They since finished runners-up on two occasions: 2011 (3-1 loss versus Serbia in final) and 2013 (3-1 loss versus Russia in final).
· Italy appeared in 30 of the 31 previous European Championships, only failing to participate in the second edition of the competition in 1950. Italy's tally of 30 appearances is a joint-record, along with 30 by Russia (including as Soviet Union).
· Italy can fail to finish on the podium in three successive European Championships for the second time after 1951-1989 (13 in a row). They finished fifth in 2017 and sixth in 2019.
· Italy were the lowest-placed team among the four European entrants at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. They finished sixth after a 3-2 defeat against Argentina in the quarter-finals.

· Slovenia make their ninth appearance at the European Championships, and their eighth in a row. They reached the podium twice, in 2015 (second) and as co-hosts in 2019 (second).
· Slovenia (2) are the only country to have played multiple European Championships gold medal games without ever winning. They lost the 2015 final in straight sets against France and lost 3-1 against Serbia in the gold medal match in 2019.
· The only three countries to have lost the gold medal match at consecutive European Championships are Italy (2011-2013), Russia (2005-2007) and Netherlands (1993-1995).

· Bulgaria competed in 29 of the 30 European Championships since making their debut in 1950. The only one they missed in that run was 2005.
· Bulgaria's best performance at the European Championships was second in 1951. They also finished on the podium in 1955 (third), 1981 (third), 1983 (third) and 2009 (third).
· Bulgaria (29, excludes 2021) are the country to have made the most appearances at the European Championships without ever winning the title.
· Bulgaria finished 11th at the 2019 European Championships, losing 3-1 versus Pool B opponents Slovenia in the round of last 16. It marked their joint-worst result in the competition (also 11th in 1987).

· Belarus make their fourth appearance at the European Championships, after 2013 (15th), 2015 (16th) and 2019 (22nd). They won only one of their 11 previous matches in the competition, a five-set victory over Finland in 2019.
· Only Latvia (0%, W0-L5) and Scotland (0%, W0-L7) have a lower winning percentage at the European Championships than Belarus (9%, W1-L10).
· Belarus were 22nd out of 24 teams at the 2019 European Championships. They finished bottom of Pool C, losing four of their five matches, including a 3-0 defeat versus Pool B opponents Slovenia.

· Montenegro finished in 18th position on their European Championship debut in the most recent edition of the competition in 2019. They just missed out on a spot in the knockout stages, despite wins over Estonia and Pool B opponents Czech Republic.
· Montenegro's only international success was winning the 2014 European League. They beat Greece twice in a two-legged final.

Pool C

· Finland are the hosts of Pool C. The matches will be played in Tampere.
· This is Finland's 19th participation in the European Championships. Their best result was a fourth place in 2007.
· Finland finished 14th at the 2019 European Championships. Their two wins that campaign came against North Macedonia (3-1) and Turkey (3-2) in the group stage.
· Finland have also won their most recent match against Netherlands (2013) at European Championships.
· Finland have lost all eight European Championship matches against Russia (5) or Soviet Union (3).
· Russia (including Soviet Union) will participate in the European Championships for the 31st successive time. They only missed out on the inaugural edition in 1948.

· Russia finished on the podium in 22 of their previous 30 participations in the European Championships, including a record 14 tournament wins (12 as Soviet Union, 2 as Russia).
· Russia's 14th and most recent European Championships success was in 2017. They defeated Germany in five sets in the final in Krakow.
· Russia (including Soviet Union) have won 23 of their 27 matches at the European Championships against their other opponents in Pool C. The exceptions were three straight-set defeats against Netherlands (most recently in 2003) and a five-set defeat versus Spain in the final of the 2007 edition.
· Russian Olympic Committee claimed a silver medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. They lost 3-2 to France in the gold-medal match.

· Netherlands will compete in the European Championships for the 27th time. The Dutch recorded five podium finished in the competition, all in successive editions: third in 1989 and 1991, second in 1993 and 1995, and champions in 1997 (an event they hosted).
· Netherlands finished 10th at the 2019 European Championships, losing 3-1 to Germany in the round of last 16.
· Netherlands have lost their most recent European Championships match against Turkey (2017), Finland (2013), Russia (2009) and Spain (2007). They have yet to meet North Macedonia in this competition.

· Spain make their 11th appearance in the European Championships, and their third consecutive. Their only podium finish in the competition was in 2007, when they won the title after defeating hosts Russia 3-2 in the final.
· Apart from their win against Russia in the 2007 final, Spain also defeated Netherlands (group) and Finland (semi-finals) in their title-winning campaign.
· Spain finished in 16th and 15th place respectively at the 2017 and 2019 European Championships.

· Turkey appear at the European Championships for the seventh time in the last eight editions (2007-2021), with the only exception 2015. They also competed in the competition at four successive editions from 1958 to 1971.
· Turkey have never finished higher than 11th in the European Championships. They reached this rank in 1963, 2011 and 2017.
· Turkey finished 12th at the 2019 European Championships. In the group stage they defeated North Macedonia (3-0), but suffered defeats against Russia (3-1) and Finland (3-2).

· North Macedonia were one of two teams to make their European Championships debut in 2019, alongside Montenegro.
· North Macedonia lost their first three matches in the 2019 edition versus Finland (3-1), Turkey (3-0) and Russia (3-0), before recording 3-1 wins against Belarus and Slovenia.

Pool D

· Estonia are the hosts of Pool D. The matches will be played in Tallinn.
· Estonia will participate in the European Championships for the sixth time. Since making their debut in 2009, they only missed out on the 2013 edition.
· Estonia's best result in the competition was an 11th place in 2015.
· Estonia have won only two of their 19 matches in the European Championships, 3-0 wins versus Portugal (2011) and Croatia (2015).
· France were crowned Olympic champions at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. They defeated Russian Olympic Committee 3-2 in the gold-medal match. It marked their first Olympic silverware in men's or women's volleyball.
· Of the previous seven European winners of the Olympic gold medal, six won the title at the first European Championships held after those Olympic Games. Soviet Union achieved this in 1967, 1971 and 1981, Netherlands in 1997, Yugoslavia in 2001 and Russia in 2013. Only Poland, who won the Olympic title in 1976, failed to achieve this feat when they lost to Soviet Union in the final of the 1977 European Championships.
· France compete in the European Championships for the 30th time. They only missed out on the 1950 and 1995 editions. The French won the European title in 2015, finished runners-up in 1948, 1987, 2003 and 2009, and took third place in 1951 and 1985.
· At the 2019 European Championships, France finished in fourth place after losing in straight sets to Poland in the match for third place.
· France defeated Germany in the final of the European qualification tournament for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The French also emerged victorious in each of their three Volleyball Nations League meetings (2018, 2019, 2021) with the Germans.
· France are unbeaten in their European Championships matches against Slovakia (4), Estonia (1) and Croatia (1). They have a W11-L4 record against German teams in this competition (Germany, East Germany, and West Germany).
· Since reunification, Germany have competed in 13 of the 15 European Championships held, with the only exceptions the 1999 and 2005 editions. Their only podium finish in that period was a second place in 2017.
· East Germany's best result in the European Championships was a fourth place in 1967 and 1971. West Germany never finished higher than 11th (1981 and 1989).
· Germany won their only European Championships meeting with Latvia, in 1995. The Germans have won five of their seven matches against Slovakia in this competition, including their two most recent in 2017 and 2019.
· Slovakia will make their 11th appearance in the European Championships. Since their debut in 1997, they only missed out on the 1999 and 2005 editions.
· Slovakia's best result in the competition was a fifth place in 2011. They finished 19th at the 2019 European Championships.
· Germany (2) are one of two opponents Slovakia have beaten multiple times in the European Championships, alongside Slovenia (3). Slovakia defeated Germany 3-1 in the 1997 and 2011 group stage.

· Croatia participate in the European Championships for the fourth time, after 2005 (8th), 2007 (14th) and 2015 (15th).
· In their most recent participation, in 2015, they lost all three of their matches in straight sets, including against France and Estonia.
· Croatia's two European Championships match wins both came in 2005, against Portugal (3-2) and Ukraine (3-0).
· Latvia appear in the European Championships for the second time, after 1995 when they finished in 11th place.
· Latvia lost all five of their matches in the 1995 edition, including a 3-1 versus Germany.

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