The male championship of the world in volleyball – 2025, which takes place in the Philippines, can already be called the most unpredictable over the past decades. Loud favorites are pouring one by one, and in the semifinals there were two very dark horses at once – Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Moreover, to enter the final, they do not even need to beat the titans like Italy or Poland: they will play a ticket to a decisive match among themselves. But the United States, whom experts wrote down at least in medalists, leave home, having suffered a sensational defeat.

How the United States missed the victory

The Americans began the quarterfinals with Bulgaria as confidently as possible. In the first set, they made a jerk already at the start, went ahead and calmly brought the matter to victory – 25:21. In the second batch, the Bulgarians tried to start, even led in the score, but the United States quickly returned control and finished off the opponent – 25:19. It seemed that the third party – the formality and match would end dry.

But it was here that the Bulgarian fairy tale began. The third set turned into defeat – 25:17 in favor of Europeans. In the fourth party, the struggle was a point in a point. With a score of 21:20, the Americans were a few glasses from going out to the semifinals, but the Bulgarians showed their character and transferred the meeting to the Tai Break-25:22. In the fifth batch, Bulgaria played on a fierce courage and did incredible things. The Americans clung and tried to escape, but unsuccessfully.

Volleyball players of the US team / Photo: © Mark Fredesjed Cristino / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

The main hero of the meeting was Alexander Nikolov, who plays at the World Cup at an unusual position of diagonal for himself. 29 points in the match against the United States are the result of the top-level, and it was he who buried the Americans.

For Bulgaria, this success is special. The last time their national team was breaking through the semifinals of the World Cup back in 2006. Now the team is again among the best and has already guaranteed the struggle for medals.

Czech Republic is a sensation that they waited for half a century

The second quarterfinals also did not do without surprises. The Czech Republic, considered a clear outsider against Iran, lost the first set – 22:25, but then completely rebuilt and won three parties in a row: 27:25, 25:20, 25:21.

For the Czech Republic, this is a historical moment. The last time the team was part of the top 4 of the World Cup 47 years ago, then even as part of Czechoslovakia. And if in the 70s the Czechs were leaders of male volleyball, now their exit to the semifinals is one of the main miracles of world sports this year.

Europe took everything to herself

The mesh of the semi -finals turned out to be absolutely European: the Czech Republic – Bulgaria and Poland – Italy. This rarely happens in male volleyball. The last time four teams from Europe met in the final stage of the World Cup back in 1966. And especially symbolic, that even then, among the strongest was Czechoslovakia.

Volleyball players of the Czech national team / Photo: © Mark Fredesject Cristino / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Now one thing is clear: in the final of the world championship there will definitely be an outsider. Either Bulgaria, which did not rise so high for almost 20 years, or the Czech Republic, which created a sensation after a half -century break.

In the other half of the grid, everything is predictable: Italy and Poland confidently dealt with Belgium and Turkey, respectively. They argued for the title three years ago in the final of the World Cup-2022, and now there is every chance that the champion will be determined again in the confrontation of Italians and Poles.

The Poles and Italians taught the fans to stability: both teams have long been entrenched in the world’s leaders and regularly play the medals of the largest tournaments. For them, the semifinals is a minimum program.

Russia looks from the outside

Against the background of sensations, it is difficult not to recall the detached team of Russia. With all the sympathy for the exploits of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, it is difficult to imagine that the Russian team with such a grid would not have reached the final. The level of the game and the depth of the composition of Russians in recent years have made it possible to fight Italy and Poland at least on equal terms.

Volleyball players of the Russian national team / Photo: © All -Russian Volleyball Federation / Danil Aikin

But now the tournament lives without Russia – and, as luck would have it, it is in its absence that the most unpredictable world championship takes place in a long time. Perhaps if the Russians were in Manila, fairy tales would not have happened. And so – Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have a unique chance of a historical result.