Estonia beat Finland 3-2 in Tampere: Belgium top Pool C at EuroVolley 2026

In the early hours of this morning Vietnam time, the Nokia Arena in Tampere witnessed one of the most dramatic matches of the EuroVolley 2026 group stage. Estonia – seen as an underdog – defeated hosts Finland 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 15-11) in front of 9,813 fans. The result not only delighted Estonian supporters but also reshaped Pool C: Finland lost top spot, and Belgium officially took the group crown. Finland started with strong determination, with the Marttila brothers and Joonas Jokela repeatedly finding gaps in Estonia's defence. The home side won the first set 25-22. Estonia responded in the second set, with opposite hitter Timo Andre Lohmus being the key factor. Estonia opened a 16-11 lead and closed the set 25-21. The third set was a thriller. Finland's Luka Marttila delivered three consecutive aces to tie the set at 19-19. But Estonia stayed calm, and Lohmus produced a crucial block to make it 22-20 before taking the set 25-22. Finland fought back in the fourth set, with substitute Niko Suihkonen scoring seven points to force a 25-20 win and a tie-break. However, Estonia mastered the decisive set, winning 15-11. According to Volleytimes, Lohmus finished with 24 points while opposite Renee Teppan added 16. WorldofVolley, however, credited Teppan with 24 points and Lohmus with 16. The discrepancy reflects different statistical methods but does not diminish the pair's contribution. This was Estonia's second consecutive victory after their 3-1 win over the Netherlands days earlier. The match also saw Joonas Jokela earn his 100th cap for Finland. Before play, Olli Kunnari's niece Olivia Kunnari sang the national anthem. Estonia's Lohmus proudly said the team wanted to win in front of the crowd and gave everything. Finland captain Antti Ronkainen admitted Estonia played well, wanted the fifth set, and fought hard; Finland now turns attention to the next opponent. This result affected the final Pool C standings. Belgium topped the group with 13 points, Finland dropped to second with 11, Serbia and Denmark had 7 each, Estonia had 5, and the Netherlands had 2. The round of 16 begins on September 19 in Sofia and Turin. Finland will face Greece, Belgium meets Czechia, with those matches played on September 20 and 21 in Turin. Poland faces Latvia and Germany plays Bulgaria on September 19 in Sofia, followed by Ukraine-Romania and France-Portugal on September 20. Slovenia takes on Serbia in Turin on September 21, and Italy plays Denmark the same weekend. Semifinals and medal matches are scheduled in Milan. Estonia now enter the knockout round with confidence. They proved they can stay composed in decisive moments, a crucial quality in a 24-team tournament. Finland must fix their tie-break issues, especially their serving reliability. In many ways, this match offered lessons about depth, mental strength, and tactical courage. For volleyball fans, it was also a reminder that host nations are not necessarily unbeatable. Estonia's victory was earned through teamwork and belief, and they will be a dangerous outsider in the next phase.