Finnish volleyball players swept through their opponents with remarkable efficiency during the opening week of the Golden European League 2025, establishing themselves as early favorites in the competition.
The first week of matches, which concluded on June 8 across four European cities, saw four teams maintain perfect records. Finland emerged as the table leader after dominating both their matches against Slovakia and North Macedonia without dropping a single set.
"Finland has shown exceptional form to start the tournament, but we still have many matches ahead," a tournament official might note about their impressive performance.
Romania matched Finland's unbeaten run with equally commanding victories. The hosts in Mioveni delivered a flawless performance, sweeping both Montenegro and Latvia without losing a set – quite a statement from the Eastern Europeans.
Israel also impressed volleyball fans, securing two wins in Group B matches held in Strumica, North Macedonia. Despite trailing slightly behind the leaders due to set ratios, their victories over Croatia and the Czech Republic have positioned them well for the upcoming rounds.
Meanwhile, Greece rounded out the quartet of undefeated teams, standing strong with two wins on home court in Arta and currently placing fourth overall in the standings.
Interestingly, several teams struggled to find their rhythm in the opening matches. North Macedonia failed to win a single set in their two appearances, while Portugal and Montenegro are still searching for their first victories.
The competition's format saw matches played across four cities – Arta (Greece), Strumica (North Macedonia), Bratislava (Slovakia), and Mioveni (Romania) – creating a truly continental feel to the tournament.
Can Finland maintain their perfect record as the competition progresses? With such dominant performances from multiple teams, the Golden European League 2025 has already delivered compelling volleyball action in its opening week.
