The recent weeks have seen the conclusion of the Men`s CEV European Golden and Silver Volleyball Leagues, delivering thrilling finishes and marking historic firsts for two nations. Finland triumphed in the Golden League, securing their maiden title, while Sweden claimed gold in the Silver League, also for the first time.
Golden Glory for Finland in Brno
The Men`s European Golden League final, hosted in Brno, Czechia, presented an interesting narrative. The final match featured two teams who have recently benefited from significant investment through the FIVB`s Volleyball Empowerment program: Finland and the host nation, Czechia. Both national federations received substantial funding aimed at supporting their coaching structures – a detail that adds a layer of intrigue to their presence in the final showdown.
Finland`s journey to the final saw them qualify in third place from the league phase, securing what could be called “the last train” ticket to the final round. Czechia, despite finishing sixth, earned their spot automatically as the host nation – a clear advantage of playing at home, even if the league performance suggested a tougher path.
In the semifinals, Finland demonstrated their strength by dispatching Greece with a confident 3-0 victory. Czechia pleased the local crowd by mirroring this result, overcoming Israel 3-0 to set up the anticipated final.
The gold medal match itself was a hard-fought battle. Finland, led by head coach Olli Kunnari, staged a remarkable comeback after dropping the first set. They ultimately secured a 3-1 victory (24-26, 26-24, 25-15, 25-23) against Jiri Novak`s Czech side. This momentous win marks the first time in history that Finland has claimed the European Golden League title.
Czechia, two-time former champions, had to settle for the silver medals on this occasion. The bronze medal match saw Israel defeat Greece 3-1, earning Israel their first-ever piece of European Golden League hardware – a significant achievement for their program.
Individually, Finland`s 26-year-old opposite hitter, Joonas Jokela, was recognized for his outstanding performance throughout the tournament and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Sweden Claims Silver League Title in Two-Leg Thriller
Parallel to the Golden League, the Men`s CEV European Silver League also reached its climax. The final was contested between Sweden and Hungary over a unique home-and-away series.
Sweden had topped the Silver League`s first round standings with a perfect record, while Hungary finished second. The first leg of the final was held in Kecskemet, Hungary, where Sweden secured a strong 3-1 victory, giving them a clear advantage heading into the return match.
The second leg, played in Umea, Sweden, saw Hungary fight back admirably, winning the match 3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 29-27, 16-25, 17-15). However, under the competition format, Sweden needed only to win two sets in the return match to clinch the overall title based on points accumulated across both legs. As soon as they secured their second set, the Swedish team could celebrate their championship win, regardless of the final match result.
This triumph marks Sweden`s first-ever title in the European Silver League, mirroring Finland`s achievement in the Golden League by claiming their inaugural gold. Sweden`s 29-year-old outside hitter, Viktor Lindberg, was named the MVP of the Silver League.
Concluding Thoughts
The conclusions of both the Golden and Silver Leagues provided compelling narratives, from Finland`s comeback and historic Golden win fueled in part by structured coaching support, to Sweden`s calculated triumph in the two-leg Silver final. These tournaments highlight the competitive spirit and developing talent within European men`s volleyball, setting the stage for future seasons.
Marcus Blakely