The Poles, managed by Serbian coach Nikola Grbić, defeated the United States 3-2 in their semifinal clash on Wednesday, earning a spot in the gold-medal match.
Poland players celebrate winning their semifinal clash against the USA at the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa
Nikola Grbić. Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa
Poland's Wilfredo Leon (right) in action against Team USA's Maxwell Holt and Matthew Anderson in the French capital on Wednesday. Photo: PAP/Adam Warżawa
Meanwhile, home favourites France beat Italy 3-0 in the other semifinal later in the day.
Poland crushed Egypt 3-0 in their Olympic tournament opener and followed up with a 3-2 win over Brazil in their second match in Paris.
The Poles lost 0-3 to Italy in their final preliminary-round fixture, having already secured a place in the knockout stages.
Grbić's men beat Slovenia 3-1 in the quarterfinals on Monday.
The Polish team, which is a strong contender in international volleyball, has been named among the country's best hopes for a gold medal at the Paris Games.
Poland players, accompanied by tennis star Iga Świątek, celebrate beating Slovenia in the quarterfinals of the Olympic men's volleyball tournament on Monday, August 5, 2024. Photo: EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU
Poland won gold at the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal, but did not get past the quarterfinals in the last five Olympics: Athens, Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo.
Poland won world championship titles in 2014 and 2018 and finished runners-up in 2022.
Last year, Poland won the Men's 2023 European Volleyball Championship by defeating Italy 3-0 in the final in Rome.
In late June, the Polish team claimed bronze in the Nations League after beating Slovenia 3-0 in the third-place match.
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Source: TVP, IAR, PAP
