With Bulgaria's 3-2 comeback win and the USA's upset, the men's volleyball World Championship semifinalists are decided: two dark horses included.

On September 26th Beijing time, the men's volleyball World Championship quarterfinals concluded. Italy swept Belgium 3-0 with unstoppable momentum, Poland dominated Turkey 3-0 with full power, Czech Republic won three consecutive sets to overturn Iran 3-1, and Bulgaria came from behind 0-2 to stun the USA 3-2. Thus, the final four teams of this tournament are Italy, Poland, and the dark horses Czech Republic and Bulgaria!

Italy faced Belgium. Although Italy, ranked second in the world, advanced as the second in their group, they showed great stability in the knockout stage by sweeping Argentina 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals. In the quarters, facing Belgium who had beaten them in the group stage, Italy took their revenge fiercely, dominating the entire match with high pressure from start to finish, winning straight sets 3-0 and never letting Belgium score more than 18 points in any set—truly a brutal performance!

Poland played against Turkey. Ranked number one globally, Poland showed their strength by advancing undefeated to the quarterfinals. Facing Turkey, they encountered little resistance overall and maintained the upper hand, winning three straight sets 3-0 to crush Turkey, securing a strong fifth consecutive victory and confirming their status as the world's top team!

Czech Republic versus Iran. Neither team is considered a powerhouse, and their skill levels are very close. Both advanced from the group stage to the quarterfinals, making this a classic dark horse showdown. It was a golden opportunity for both teams to reach the semifinals, and the battle was fierce. Each set was tightly contested, going down to crucial points. The Czech’s powerful attacks prevailed; despite dropping one set, they won the next three to overturn Iran 3-1 and clinch a semifinal spot!

Bulgaria faced the USA. Both teams entered the quarterfinals with four consecutive wins. The USA, ranked fourth in the world and higher than Bulgaria, started strong with momentum and multiple scoring points, accelerating to a 25-21 first set win. The second set saw the USA dominate 25-19, taking a 2-0 lead and match point, just one step from the semifinals. Yet, Bulgaria launched a massive comeback, adjusting tactics and mindset. They attacked from multiple angles to crush the USA 25-17 in the third set. Riding the momentum, Bulgaria seized key points to win the fourth set 25-22, leveling the match at 2-2 and reviving the suspense. The decisive fifth set was a fierce tactical battle, with both sides fighting fiercely. In the final moments, Bulgaria held steady to claim the set 15-13, completing a thrilling 3-2 upset over the USA—a dramatic and intense comeback!

With this, Europe has swept all four semifinal spots, while other continents are completely eliminated. The semifinal matchups are set: Poland versus Italy, a clash of the world’s top two teams, and a battle between the two lower-ranked dark horses, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. We look forward to seeing who will emerge for the final showdown!

Written by / Sports Novel