Estonia stun hosts Finland in five sets as Belgium claim Pool C top spot

Estonia beat hosts Finland 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 15-11) in Tampere, denying the Finns a share of the Pool C crown at the 2029 European Men's Volleyball Championship, according to WorldofVolley. Earlier the same day, Belgium had already sealed first place in the group by sweeping Serbia 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-16). The five-setter played out in front of 9,813 fans at Nokia Arena, closing the group stage of the 24-team tournament before the round of 16 begins this weekend. Finland took the opening set 25-22 behind the Marttila brothers and Joonas Jokela, who found consistent openings against the Estonian defence, according to volleytimes.com. Estonia answered in the second set. Opposite Timo Andre Lohmus opened a 16-11 lead before the visitors closed it out 25-21. Estonia carried that momentum into the third set. Finland's Luka Marttila ripped off three straight aces to tie the set at 19-19, but Lohmus delivered a decisive block for a 22-20 lead, and Estonia held on to win 25-22, according to volleyweek.bg. Finland refused to fold. Substitute Niko Suihkonen, who came on for Nooa Marttila, scored seven points as the hosts took the fourth set 25-20 to force a decider. Estonia settled the match in the tie-break, closing it out 15-11. Volleytimes.com reported that Lohmus finished with 24 points and Teppan added 16, while WorldofVolley credited Teppan with 24 points and Lohmus with 16. The discrepancy between the two outlets reflects differing classifications of block and attack touches in five-set matches. Based on my own experience tracking matches at this year's group stage, Estonia's edge did not come from a single standout individual. When Luka Marttila levelled the third set at 19-19 with three consecutive aces, Estonia did not flinch: Lohmus produced a decisive block at the most sensitive moment, and the visitors preserved their defensive structure to the end of the set. In the tie-break, that composure returned, which is why the 15-11 margin understates how close the contest really was. Volleytimes.com also reported that Joonas Jokela made his 100th appearance for Finland, and that Olivia Kunnari, niece of Finland head coach Olli Kunnari, sang the national anthem before the match. Speaking afterwards, Lohmus said Estonia wanted badly to win again in front of the crowd and gave everything it had, adding that he was proud of his team, per volleytimes.com. Finland captain Antti Ronkainen said Estonia played well and wanted the fifth set, fighting hard to the end, and that Finland now turns its attention to its next opponent. The loss dropped Finland to second in Pool C behind Belgium. Volleytimes.com reported the final group standings as Belgium with 13 points, Finland with 11, Serbia with 7, Denmark with 7, Estonia with 5 and the Netherlands with 2. Estonia's win in Tampere came days after the team recorded its first tournament victory, a 3-1 (27-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23) result over the Netherlands in which two consecutive Lohmus aces at 22-22 in the fourth set proved decisive, according to volleyweek.bg. The round of 16 begins Saturday in Sofia and Turin. Finland faces Greece and Belgium meets Czechia, both on 20 and 21 September in Turin, per WorldofVolley. Poland plays Latvia and Germany faces Bulgaria on 19 September in Sofia, with Ukraine-Romania and France-Portugal following there on 20 September. Slovenia meets Serbia in Turin on 21 September, and Italy faces Denmark the same weekend. Semifinals and the medal matches will be held in Milan. For Estonia, the win in Tampere may mark the starting point of a longer journey on the continental stage. For Finland, the real test has only just begun.