Women's_European_Volleyball_Championship

Women's European Volleyball Championship

Women's European Volleyball Championship

Recurring volleyball competition for women's national team

The Women's European Volleyball Championship is the official competition for senior women's national volleyball teams of Europe, organized by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV). The initial gap between championships was variable, but since 1975 they have been awarded every two years. The current champion is Turkey, which won its first title at the 2023 tournament.[1]

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History

The first tournament was held in 1949 with participation of seven national teams. It was dominated by teams from Eastern Europe, who at that times were strongest teams not only at the European continent but also in the whole world. The teams from Eastern Europe dominated at the tournament for next four and half decades. The first European title was won by Soviet Union, who also won two next editions – in 1950 and 1951. At all three tournaments the Soviet team demonstrated overwhelming advantage – they not only won all matches, but also didn't lose any single set. This achievement was repeated by Soviet Union at the first Women's World Championship which was held in 1952 in Moscow.

In 1955, Czechoslovakia managed to break Soviet dominance and to win European gold after 3-2 victory over a Soviet Union in a decisive match at the tournament. However, Soviet team returned at first positions after victory at the 1956 World Championship next year. At the next 1958 European Championship which was held in Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union took revenge and returned European title after 3-2 victories over host team and Poland who captured silver and bronze medals respectively.

The victory in 1958 marked the beginning of the era of dominance of the Soviet Union which lasted for more than two decades. From 1958 to 1979, Soviet team didn't lose any tournament by winning 7 European titles in a row. At the next European Championship which was held in 1963, Soviet Union defended own title after difficult 3-2 victory over a Poland in a decisive match of the final round. But at next two European tournaments – in 1967 and 1971 – Soviet team demonstrated overwhelming advantage not losing any single set in all matches. European Championships held in 1975 and 1977 were also won relatively easy as all matches ended with either 3-0 or 3-1 victories. However, at the 1979 European Championship, Soviet Union faced with serious resistance from opponents. In preliminary round, Soviet Union lost 2-3 to Poland. It was only second defeat of the Soviet team at the European Championships and also their first defeat within 24 years. It, however, affected little at outcome of the tournament as Polish team was eliminated after preliminary round while Soviet team won gold medals after difficult 3-2 victories over a Romania and Bulgaria in the final round. During these two decades, Soviet Union was not only dominant power in Europe but also world volleyball superpower by winning two Olympic titles (1968, 1972), two World Championships (1960, 1970) and first edition of the Women's World Cup held in 1973.

After victory at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, a power of the Soviet team started to decline. At the next 1981 European Championship which was held in Bulgaria, home team finally managed to break Soviet dominance. Bulgaria won their maiden European title after 3-0 victory over a Soviet Union in a decisive match of the final round which was held in Sofia. The next four European Championships were marked by rivalry between Soviet Union and East Germany. In 1983, playing at home, East Germany obtained a remarkable victory over Soviets after trailing 0-2 in a decisive match of the final round which was held in Rostock and won their maiden European title. Two years later Soviet team took revenge and returned European title after 3-0 victory over East Germany in a decisive match of the final round. But in 1987 East Germany won European Championship for second time after 3-2 victory over Soviet Union in a final match. The last European final between these national teams took place in 1989 in Stuttgart, West Germany. Soviet team won 3-1 and returned European title.

In the late 1980s, Soviet Union was managed to return status of volleyball superpower not only in Europe but also in the world by winning 1988 Olympic Games and 1990 World Championships. At the 1991 European Championship, Soviet team demonstrated overwhelming advantage not losing any single set in all matches – including 3-0 victories over unified Germany in semifinals and Netherlands in the final match. It however was their last participation at the competition. Soviet national team finished its history with remarkable statistics - they won 13 of 17 European Championships (not losing any single set in all matches at 6 of 13 victorious tournaments), suffered only 5 defeats in 116 matches, with set ratio 341:43.

Following the Soviet Union's dissolution in December 1991, Russia (official inheritor of the Soviet team) continued to dominate in Europe. It's remarkable that their main European rival at those times (who became runner-up for the three times in a row) was Croatia strengthened by some former Soviet players such as Irina Kirillova, Yelena Chebukina, Tatyana Sidorenko and Maria Likhtenstein. In 1995, playing at home, Netherlands managed to break this dominance after 3-1 victory over a Russia in semifinals and 3-0 victory over Croatia in a final match which was held in Arnhem. This victory became historical not only for Netherlands, but also for whole Western Europe. At the next two editions – in 1997 and 1999 – Russia returned at first positions after 3-0 victories over Croatia in both final matches. But in the 2001 European Championship final Russian team faced with stronger resistance from the new rising European power – Italy (who became World Champion next year). Russia achieved difficult victory in a five-set match. Nikolay Karpol won European title as head coach for the record seventh time (starting from 1979 victory).

After victory in 2001, the period of Russia's dominance came to end, and more national teams were managed to win their maiden European title. The next tournament was surprisingly won by Poland while Russia (2001 European Champion) and Italy (2002 World Champion) faced only in 5th place match. At the 2005 European Championship, Polish team proved non-randomness of this success after 3-2 victory over a Russia in semifinals and 3-1 victory over Italy in a final match. In 2007, Italy won their maiden European title by beating Serbia 3-0 in a final match. At next European Championships, Italian team repeated this success after 3-0 victory over Netherlands in a final. In 2011, playing at home, Serbia managed to win their maiden European title after remarkable 3-2 victory over Germany in a final match which was held in Belgrade. The next two European Championships held in 2013 and 2015 were won by Russia who managed to beat home teams in both the final matches (3-1 over Germany in Berlin and 3-0 over Netherlands in Rotterdam respectively).

The 2017 European Championship took place in Azerbaijan and Georgia. The 2019 European Championship was co-hosted by four countries for first time – Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Turkey. Both tournaments were finished with Serbia's success who also won World Championships in 2018. However, this winning streak was ended in 2021 when Italy managed to beat Serbia in a final match which was held at the opponent's home ground in Belgrade and thus winning their third European title in history. Next year Serbian team won World Championships for second time in history. But in 2023 Serbia lost European final again – Turkey managed to beat reigning World Champions in a 5th-set tie-breaker and thus to win their maiden European trophy.

The 33 European Championship tournaments have been won by nine nations. Russia have won nineteen times (thirteen as Soviet Union). The other European Championship winners are Italy and Serbia, with three titles each; Germany (as East Germany) and Poland, with two titles each; and Bulgaria, Czech Republic (as Czechoslovakia), Netherlands and Turkey, with one title each.

The current format of the competition involves a qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding two years, to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase, which is often called the European Championship Finals. 16 teams, including the automatically qualifying host nation(s), compete in the tournament phase for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about two weeks. For the 2019 edition the number of participants in the Finals was increased from 16 to 24.

Poland co-holds record for the participation in the European Championships (32 times) by missing only one tournament. Russia also participated in the 32 European Championships (seventeen as the Soviet Union). Bulgaria participated in the continental championships 31 times and Netherlands – 30 times.

Results summary

More information Year, Host(s) ...

Medals table

More information Rank, Nation ...

Total hosts

Euro Women's Championship 2015
More information Hosts, Nations (Year(s)) ...
* = co-hosts

Participating nations

Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  •  •  – Did not enter / Did not qualify
  •    – Hosts
  • Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
Team Czechoslovakia
1949
(7)		 Bulgaria
1950
(6)		 France
1951
(6)		 Romania
1955
(6)		 Czechoslovakia
1958
(12)		 Romania
1963
(13)		 Turkey
1967
(15)		 Italy
1971
(18)		 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
1975
(12)		 Finland
1977
(12)		 France
1979
(12)		 Bulgaria
1981
(12)		 East Germany
1983
(12)		 Netherlands
1985
(12)		 Belgium
1987
(12)		 West Germany
1989
(12)		 Italy
1991
(12)		 Czech Republic
1993
(12)		 Netherlands
1995
(12)		 Czech Republic
1997
(12)		 Italy
1999
(8)		 Bulgaria
2001
(12)		 Turkey
2003
(12)		 Croatia
2005
(12)
 Albania••••••••••••••••11th•••••••
 Austria••••12th12th•17th••••••••••••••••
 AzerbaijanPart of  Soviet Union••••••4th
 BelarusPart of  Soviet Union8th8th11th••••
 Belgium••••••14th•12th•12th•••12th•••••••••
 Bulgaria•4th•5th5th5th6th4th4th7th3rd1st4th10th4th7th7th9th5th4th7th3rd7th9th
 Czech RepublicSee  Czechoslovakia10th3rd•10th11th•
 CroatiaPart of  Yugoslavia6th2nd2nd2nd9th•8th
 Denmark•••••13th•16th••••••••••••••••
 England•••••••18th••••••••••••••••
 Finland•••••••••12th•••••12th••••••••
 France5th•4th•9th••13th••11th•10th8th7th10th9th••••8th••
 GermanySee  East Germany and  West Germany3rd5th4th10th4th11th3rd11th
 Greece•••••••••••••12th••8th12th•••12th••
 Hungary6th6th•6th6th7th5th5th2nd3rd4th3rd3rd9th10th•••••••••
 Israel••••••8th11th••••••••••••••••
 Italy••6th•••11th8th9th11th•8th7th5th6th3rd4th4th6th5th3rd2nd6th2nd
 LatviaPart of  Soviet Union11th12th8th••••
 Netherlands7th•5th•10th9th7th9th11th10th6th9th11th3rd5th•2nd7th1st9th5th5th4th5th
 Poland3rd2nd2nd3rd3rd2nd2nd3rd6th4th8th5th9th7th11th9th10th•9th6th8th6th1st1st
 Romania4th5th•4th4th3rd9th7th7th6th5th7th6th11th8th4th6th10th•12th6th7th8th10th
 RussiaSee  Soviet Union1st3rd1st1st1st5th3rd
 SlovakiaPart of  Czechoslovakia••••12th•
 Spain•••••••••••••••••••••••12th
 Sweden••••••15th15th••••12th•••••••••••
  Switzerland••••••13th12th••••••••••••••••
 Turkey•••••10th12th••••12th•••11th••11th•••2nd6th
 UkrainePart of  Soviet Union3rd7th7th•4th9th•
Discontinued nations
 Czechoslovakia2nd3rd•1st2nd6th3rd2nd5th5th7th6th8th4th3rd5th5th2ndSee  Czech Republic
 East Germany••••8th4th4th6th3rd2nd2nd4th1st2nd1st2ndSee  Germany
 Serbia and MontenegroSee  Yugoslavia•••••10th7th
 Soviet Union1st1st1st2nd1st1st1st1st1st1st1st2nd2nd1st2nd1st1stSee  Russia
 West Germany••••11th11th10th10th10th8th9th10th5th6th9th6thSee  Germany
 Yugoslavia••3rd•7th8th•14th8th9th10th11th•••8th12thSee  Serbia and Montenegro
Team Czechoslovakia
1949
(7)		 Bulgaria
1950
(6)		 France
1951
(6)		 Romania
1955
(6)		 Czechoslovakia
1958
(12)		 Romania
1963
(13)		 Turkey
1967
(15)		 Italy
1971
(18)		 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
1975
(12)		 Finland
1977
(12)		 France
1979
(12)		 Bulgaria
1981
(12)		 East Germany
1983
(12)		 Netherlands
1985
(12)		 Belgium
1987
(12)		 West Germany
1989
(12)		 Italy
1991
(12)		 Czech Republic
1993
(12)		 Netherlands
1995
(12)		 Czech Republic
1997
(12)		 Italy
1999
(8)		 Bulgaria
2001
(12)		 Turkey
2003
(12)		 Croatia
2005
(12)
Team Belgium
Luxembourg
2007
(16)		 Poland
2009
(16)		 Italy
Serbia
2011
(16)		 Germany
Switzerland
2013
(16)		 Belgium
Netherlands
2015
(16)		 Azerbaijan
Georgia (country)
2017
(16)		 Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
Turkey
2019
(24)		 Serbia
Bulgaria
Croatia
Romania
2021
(24)		 Belgium
Italy
Estonia
Germany
2023
(24)		 Total
 Albania•••••••••1
 Austria•••••••••3
 Azerbaijan12th12th9th15th14th4th10th24th17th10
 Belarus16th15th•12th9th7th22nd13th•10
 Belgium7th11th•3rd6th14th9th14th15th12
 Bosnia and Herzegovina•••••••19th18th2
 Bulgaria11th8th14th13th13th9th8th9th7th31
 Czech Republic9th10th8th10th11th12th•15th8th12
 Croatia14th16th12th5th10th11th11th10th22nd15
 Denmark•••••••••2
 England•••••••••1
 Estonia••••••23rd•23rd2
 Finland••••••18th18th21st5
 France8th14th10th8th••21st7th6th18
 Georgia•••••16th•••1
 Germany6th4th2nd2nd5th8th6th11th12th17
 Greece••••••14th22nd19th7
 Hungary••••12th15th20th16th24th19
 Israel••16th••••••3
 Italy1st1st4th6th7th5th3rd1st4th27
 Latvia•••••••••3
 Netherlands5th2nd7th9th2nd2nd5th4th3rd30
 Poland4th3rd5th11th8th10th4th5th5th32
 Portugal••••••24th••1
 Romania••12th•15th•13th23rd11th27
 Russia3rd6th6th1st1st6th7th6th•15
 Serbia2nd7th1st4th3rd1st1st2nd2nd9
 Slovakia13th13th••••12th17th10th6
 Slovenia••••16th•16th•20th3
 Spain15th9th11th16th••15th21st13th8
 Sweden•••••••8th16th5
  Switzerland•••14th••19th20th14th6
 Turkey10th5th3rd7th4th3rd2nd3rd1st16
 Ukraine••15th••13th17th12th9th10
Discontinued nations
 CzechoslovakiaSee  Czech Republic17
 East GermanySee  Germany12
 Serbia and MontenegroSee  Serbia2
 Soviet UnionSee  Russia17
 West GermanySee  Germany12
 YugoslaviaSee  Serbia and Montenegro10

Most valuable player by edition

Most successful players

Boldface denotes active volleyball players and highest medal count among all players (including these who not included in these tables) per type.

Multiple gold medalists

More information Rank, Player ...

Multiple medalists

The table shows players who have won at least 6 medals in total at the European Championships.

More information Rank, Player ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Magnificent Türkiye seal maiden European trophy with dramatic comeback". eurovolley.cev.eu. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
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