07.09.2026 10:51
The Sultans of the Net's 3-2 victory over Italy to become European champions for the second consecutive time received extensive coverage in the European press. The press in Italy, France, Serbia, and Portugal featured Turkey's triumph in Istanbul on their front pages, highlighting in particular Melissa Vargas's performance and the national team's title defense.
Turkey and Italy faced each other in the final of the 2026 CEV European Volleyball Championship at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall in Istanbul.
The Sultans of the Net won the highly competitive match, which went to a deciding set, 3-2, and lifted the trophy once again as European champions for the second consecutive time. Turkey's historic victory over Italy also received extensive coverage in Europe's leading sports newspapers.
CORRIERE DELLO SPORT: ITALY SURRENDERED IN THE TIE-BREAK
Italian Corriere dello Sport announced the final to its readers with the headline "Italy surrendered in the tie-break, Turkey became European Champions."
While the report noted that the final was extremely competitive, it highlighted that Turkey, led by Vargas, recovered after a heavy 25-12 defeat in the third set and won the match in the deciding set. The atmosphere created by approximately 17 thousand fans at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall was also highlighted in the report.
LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT: THE DREAM OF A TREBLE FELL THROUGH
La Gazzetta dello Sport, on the other hand, reported Italy's defeat with the words, "The dream of a treble for the Italian volleyball team fell through: Italy was defeated by Turkey in the European Championship final." While the newspaper emphasized that Turkey achieved the European championship for the second consecutive time, it wrote that Italy could not capitalize on the opportunities it found during the match.
L'EQUIPE: TURKEY WON ANOTHER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
French L'Equipe reported the Sultans of the Net's victory under the headline "Turkey won another European championship by beating Italy." The report stated that Turkey defeated Italy 3-2 in a breathtaking final and defended the European championship title it won in 2023 on home soil.
MOZZART SPORT: THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THEIR GOLDEN AGE AGAIN
Serbia-based Mozzart Sport used the phrase "Turkish volleyball players are experiencing their golden age again" for Turkey's success. While the report noted that the final played in Istanbul was highly competitive until the last moment, it was pointed out that Turkey defended its European championship title by beating Italy 3-2 in front of its home crowd.
SPORTSKI ZURNAL HIGHLIGHTED VARGAS
Sportski Zurnal also used the headline "Turkish volleyball team defended its European championship title." The report stated that the Sultans of the Net defeated Italy 3-2, noting that Melissa Vargas was Turkey's most effective player with 28 points, while Zehra Güneş recorded 12 points.
O JOGO: TURKEY WON BY COMING FROM BEHIND
Portuguese newspaper O Jogo drew attention to the Sultans of the Net's comeback. The newspaper used the phrases "Turkey defeated Italy by coming from behind and became CEV European Women's Volleyball Champion for the second consecutive time."
THE TOP OF EUROPE IS TURKEY'S AGAIN
The Sultans of the Net, who fell behind twice against Italy in the final, took the match to the deciding set by winning the fourth set. Turkey won the final set 15-10 and the match 3-2, achieving its second consecutive European championship.