Krakow, Poland, September 3, 2017. The final day of LOTTO EUROVOLLEY 2017 arrived to Krakow and will reveal the new champions of Europe. On Saturday Serbia received upset at the hands of Germany, who defeated them 3-2 (24-26, 15-25, 25-18, 27-25, 15-13). Russia continue their winning streak without a single set loss, beating Belgium 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-17) and hope to keep the quality of their game when facing Germany in the match for gold medal. 

Read some facts about all four teams and their upcoming duels:


Serbia vs. Belgium - 17.30 CET

 
Head-to-head
- Serbia (including its predecessors) and Belgium have met five times before at the European Championship.
- Serbia won three times: 3-0 in 1951 and 1967 (both as Yugoslavia) and 3-1 in 2013. Belgium won twice: 3-1 in 1971 and 3-0 in 1987 (both against Yugoslavia).
- Their last competitive meetings came at the 2017 World League. Belgium won 3-0 in Novi Sad, while Serbia won 3-0 in Tehran.
- These teams also met at the qualification tournament for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Serbia beat Belgium 3-1.

Serbia

- Serbia will finish in the top four for the 10th time in their last 12 participations in the European Championship. The exceptions are 2009 (fifth) and 2015 (seventh).
- Serbia could claim their 11th medal in the competition and their eighth bronze medal. Only Russia (22, including 2017) and Italy (13) have bagged more European Championship medals. Their seven bronze medals are already a record in the competition.
- Serbia have won five of their previous six bronze medal matches at the European Championship, only losing to Russia in 2003. They claimed their other two bronze medals in the early editions with a round-robin format (1975 and 1979 as Yugoslavia).
- They have won at least one set in each of their last 30 European Championship matches since a 3-0 defeat against Russia in the semifinals in 2007.

Belgium

- Belgium will finish in the top four at the European Championship for the first time.
- Before this year, Belgium's highest finish in the tournament was a fifth place in the inaugural edition in 1948, when only six countries participated.
- Belgium managed only a 10th place finish at the European Championship two years ago.
- Belgium have also never claimed a medal at the Olympic Games, World Championships, World League, World Cup and Grand Champions Cup.

Germany vs. Russia - 20.30 CET

Head-to-head
- Germany (including East and West Germany) and Russia (including Soviet Union) will meet for the 15th time at the European Championship.
- Germany recorded three wins against Russia in this tournament, in their very first meeting (3-2 in 1963 as East Germany) and in their last two (3-2 in 1997 and 3-0 in 2013).
- Russia won the 11 matches in-between, including nine wins in straight sets.
- Russia have won all of their European Championship meetings beyond the group stage: 3-0 in 1971 final round, 3-0 in 1983 final round, 3-1 for third place in 1993 and 3-0 for 5th-8th place in 1995.
- Their most recent meeting came in the qualification tournament for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Russia won 3-1.

Germany

- Germany have reached their first final at the European Championship.
- This will be their first podium at the European Championship, as their previous best result was a fourth place in 1967, 1971 (as East Germany), 1991 and 1993 (as Germany).
- Germany can become the 10th country to win the European Championship.
- At the last European Championship, in 2015, Slovenia reached the final for the first time, but finished as runners-up to France. The last team to win the European Championship final on their first try was Spain in 2007.
- Two years ago, Germany played the final at the inaugural European Games, beating Bulgaria 3-1 for the title.
- Germany beat Serbia 3-2 in the semifinals yesterday, the first time they overturned a two-set deficit at the European Championship since 1993 (versus Poland).
- Germany have won seven of their last eight matches at European Championship.

Russia

- Russia (including as Soviet Union) have won the European Championship a record 13 times, seven more than the next prolific country (Italy on 6).
- Their 22 top-three finishes (including 2017) are also more than any other team.
- Russia have won only one of the last 12 European titles as they emerged victorious in 2013 by beating Italy in the final (3-1).
- The Russians have lost three of their last four finals at the European Championship. They lost twice to Italy (3-1 in 1999, 3-2 in 2005) and once to Spain (3-2 in 2007).
- They can become the second country to lose four finals in total at the European Championship, after Italy (4).
- Russia have won 14 of their last 15 European Championship matches with the exception of the 3-0 defeat against Italy in the quarterfinals in 2015.
- Russia have yet to lose a set at the 2017 European Championship. Twice before they finished an edition of this tournament without dropping a set: in 1950 and 1951 (as Soviet Union).

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