Italy loses the final of the women's volleyball European Championships against Turkey and the dream of the treble ends

Italy's dream of winning in women's volleyball came to a halt at the tie-break, in front of the Istanbul public celebrating Turkey: Julio Velasco's girls lost in the final of the European Championships against the home team and, in front of the 16,000 spectators at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall in Istanbul, they saw the possibility of winning the continental title to add to the World Cup and the Olympics disappear, a feat only achieved by the USSR between 1968 and 1970. Well done by the Turks, coached by Daniele Santarelli, who were able to block the game of the Italians and strike coldly with Melissa Vargas, unstoppable in the last two sets, author of 28 points on the scoresheet. The final score is 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 12-25, 25-21, 15-10).

Tactical masterpiece by Santarelli, capable of maintaining concentration and supporting the team for a comeback that seemed impossible at the end of the third set. Instead, Turkey, thanks to the public in the stands, never gave up. Also up for grabs was the pass to Los Angeles 2028 which Italy will now have to win at the 2027 World Cup or based on the world ranking following the 2028 Nations League. For Santarelli's team it is the encore of the European title already won in 2023. At the Italian home team, one can complain about a second set that could have been won and which probably would have directed the match differently.

Velasco does not revolutionize the team, he starts with Orro as setter, Egonu as opposite, Antropova and Sylla as spikers, Fahr and Danesi as central defenders and Fersino as libero. The start is good. The first set is light blue. The second would be too but everything is ruined at the end. In the third Italy returns to play at a high level. Turkey seems overwhelmed: the final score of 25-12 makes the supremacy of the Danes and their teammates clear. But it's the last spark. In the fourth set, Turkey is determined and Italy appears helpless. Vargas hammers from the second line and from the net. In reception the Italians don't find the measures, there are also some errors in serving. It ends 25-21 for the hosts.

The fifth set is all Turkish: Italy seems to give up. It ends 15-10 to the general jubilation of the local fans. In the end Paola Egonu scored 28 points, Ekaterina Antropova 16 points and Myriam Sylla 12. Alessia Orro, Sarah Fahr and Anna Danesi did not disfigure themselves. The numbers cannot explain the defeat. In the final, the clarity necessary to stop the very determined opponents and the strength to respond blow for blow to Vargas seemed to be lacking. Statistically, the defeat in Istanbul interrupts Italy's unbeaten streak in the three major international events. The defeat against the Netherlands in the final for the bronze medal of the 2023 European Championship had remained until today the last Italian setback between the Olympic, World and European Games. Since then, Italy had won all six matches played at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, seven of the 2025 World Cup and the first eight of EuroVolley 2026: a series of 21 consecutive victories in the three major events.