Estonia beat hosts Finland 3-2 to advance to round of 16 at 2026 European Volleyball Championship

8,913 spectators at the Nokia Arena in Tampere witnessed a thrilling five-set match where Estonia, a team that had only just recorded its first tournament victory days earlier, defeated hosts Finland 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 15-11) on Thursday evening. This victory not only helped Estonia close the group stage with 5 points but also denied Finland a share of the Pool C crown, as Finland had to settle for second place behind Belgium with 11 points. The context of this match was special. Earlier the same day, Belgium had secured first place in the group after sweeping Serbia 3-0. Finland, with home advantage and fervent support, needed a win to secure second place and gain psychological momentum before the knockout rounds. But Estonia, which had lost its first three matches before beating the Netherlands 3-1, entered the game with fierce determination. They had nothing to lose, and that made them formidable. The match began with a tight contest. Finland won the first set 25-22 thanks to the Marttila brothers and Joonas Jokela, who earned his 100th cap. However, Estonia responded strongly in the second set as opposite Timo Andre Lohmus created a 16-11 lead, closing the set 25-21. Estonia's confidence soared in the third set as they took the lead, but Luka Marttila of Finland suddenly fired three straight aces to tie the set at 19-19. In the tensest moment, Lohmus delivered a decisive block to give Estonia a 22-20 lead and secure a 25-22 win. Finland refused to give up. The coach brought in Niko Suihkonen to replace Nooa Marttila, and he scored 7 points, helping the hosts win the fourth set 25-20 and force a decisive set. But in the tie-break, Estonia's experience and composure spoke. They took the lead and closed the match 15-11, silencing the 9,813 home fans. The highlight of the match was Timo Andre Lohmus's performance. According to Volleytimes.com, he scored 24 points, while WorldofVolley credited Teppan with 24 and Lohmus with 16. Despite the discrepancy in numbers, Lohmus's role in crucial moments was undeniable. He said: "We really wanted to win in front of this crowd and gave everything. I'm proud of the whole team." Meanwhile, Finland captain Antti Ronkainen admitted: "Estonia played well and they wanted the fifth set more. They fought hard to the end." This victory was even more meaningful given that just days earlier, Estonia had recorded its first tournament win over the Netherlands 3-1, where two consecutive aces from Lohmus at 22-22 in the fourth set sealed the win. This showed a team finding itself at the right time. With this result, the final standings of Pool C are: Belgium 13 points, Finland 11, Serbia 7, Denmark 7, Estonia 5, and the Netherlands 2. The round of 16 begins this weekend in Sofia and Turin. Finland will face Greece, and Belgium will meet Czechia, both on September 20 and 21 in Turin. Meanwhile, Poland plays Latvia and Germany faces Bulgaria on September 19 in Sofia. Estonia, with its fifth-place finish, will have to wait for results from other groups to know its opponent. But whatever the opponent, the spirit of this team after this thrilling victory will surely be a major challenge.