Romania upsets Ukraine to reach European Volleyball Championship quarterfinals

In a major upset at the European Volleyball Championship, Romania eliminated Ukraine in the round of 16 with a 3-0 victory (22-25, 21-25, 28-30). Despite Ukraine's strong group stage performance, including a win over Bulgaria, they were unable to overcome the Romanian side in Sofia.

Following the defeat, Ukrainian star Oleh Plotnytskyi took responsibility for the loss, calling for changes within the team. He noted that certain players must improve to avoid remaining stuck in the top 16 or top 8 of international rankings.

Other notable results from the tournament include Romania advancing to face France in the quarterfinals, and Finland securing a spot in the knockout stage after a five-set victory over Greece. France also progressed by defeating Portugal 3-0.