Romania’s national team lost 3-0 to Portugal in their opening match in Group D of the European Men’s Volleyball Championship on Wednesday.

Portugal – Romania 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-23) at the European Men’s Volleyball Championship

The score in sets is 25-19, 25-18, 25-23.

Also on Wednesday, in group D, there was a game between Turkey and France, the score 0-3, and on Tuesday night there was a dispute between Greece and Israel, the score was 2-3, writes News.ro.

Romania will play Israel (August 31, 20:00), Turkey (September 1, 4:00 p.m.), Greece (September 3, 5:00 p.m.) and France (September 4, 5:00 p.m.) in order.

The competition, hosted by four countries – Italy, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, from August 28 to September 16 – is contested with 24 teams at the start. The top four in each of the six groups advance to the Round of 16, a stage that also serves the purpose of the national team.

Round of 16 matches will be held on September 8-10, quarter-finals on September 11-12, and the semifinals and medal finals will be held on September 14 and 16, respectively, in Rome. The top three places, excluding Italy, also qualify for the 2025 World Cup. Italy is already qualified as world champion.

The 2023 European Championship was held for the 33rd time. The continental title belongs to Italy, who won the 7th continental title after the 2021 final with Slovenia, 3-2.

The Romanian men’s national team has five medals (1 gold – 1963, 2 silver – 1955, 1958, 2 bronze – 1971, 1977). At the 2023 European Championship, the tricolors celebrate their 18th participation, starting in 1950. Romania last played at the 2019 European Championship, when they finished 21st.