The Yellow Tigers were unable to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the European Championship. After a thrilling five-set battle in Istanbul, Belgium suffered a 2-3 defeat against Germany. The Tigers won the opening set and saved two match points in the fourth to force a tie-break, but Germany proved too strong in the decisive set. The set scores were 25-20, 21-25, 20-25, 27-25 and 8-15. Belgium’s European Championship campaign ends after a perfect pool stage in Baku, where the Tigers recorded five wins from five matches.



Head coach Kris Vansnick started with the same seven players as during the pool stage. The Tigers made an excellent start and immediately opened up a 5-1 lead. Belgium continued at the high level they had shown in Baku and extended the gap to 11-6 through Tea Radovic.

Middle blocker Camilla Weitzel then caused problems for the Belgian reception from the service line, allowing Germany to close the gap to 11-10. The Germans gradually found their rhythm and levelled the score at 14-14. The Tigers did not panic, however, and moved three points clear again at 19-16. The team of Italian head coach Giulio Bregoli could not turn the set around. With Pauline Martin serving, Belgium increased its advantage to 24-18 before Britt Herbots sealed the opening set at 25-20.

Germany made the stronger start to the second set and quickly moved 2-4 ahead. Belgium fought for every point but initially without reward, prompting Vansnick to call his first timeout at 3-7. With Radovic at the service line, the Tigers reduced the deficit to 6-8 before completely erasing Germany’s four-point lead at 10-10.

The Germans responded immediately. With Weitzel serving, they pulled clear again at 10-14 and remained in control as the score moved to 13-17. Vansnick then made his familiar double substitution. Substitute Pauline Luyten delivered from the service line, hitting two aces to bring Belgium level at 19-19. Germany regained the initiative, however. With Belgium trailing 20-23, Liese Verhelst was forced to leave the court with a knee injury. The Tigers were visibly shaken and lost the second set 21-25.

The third set began evenly, with neither side able to create a gap until 8-8. Germany once again increased the pressure from the service line and moved 9-12 ahead. Belgium refused to let go and closed to within one point at 11-12.

The Tigers stayed in touch but were unable to move in front. From 15-15, Germany took a 15-17 lead, prompting Vansnick to call a timeout. Herbots then took control. Omnipresent in attack, service and defence, she helped Belgium turn the score around and move 18-17 ahead.

The set shifted again in the closing stages. Lina Alsmeier delivered two aces to put Germany 19-21 in front and remained at the service line. Belgian errors and inaccuracies allowed Germany to race clear at 19-24. The Germans eventually took the set 20-25 to move 1-2 ahead.

Germany also made the better start to the fourth set, taking an early 1-3 lead. As they had shown so often during the tournament, the Tigers refused to give up. With Nathalie Lemmens serving, Belgium turned the set around and moved 5-3 ahead. Germany levelled the score but could not take the lead. With the Tigers 9-7 in front, Bregoli called his team to the sidelines.

With Lara Nagels and Herbots at the service line, Belgium created a five-point gap at 14-9. The Tigers continued to serve strongly and extended their lead to seven points at 18-11. Leana Grozer then fired several powerful serves at the Belgian reception and helped Germany close the gap to 18-16. Belgium restored its four-point advantage at 20-16, but the set remained tense.

With Alsmeier serving, Germany moved to within one point at 22-21 before drawing level at 22-22. The Germans then earned two match points, but the Tigers saved them both. Britt Fransen eventually blocked Belgium into a tie-break as the Tigers won the fourth set 27-25.

Belgium began the deciding set with a 2-0 lead, but Germany immediately levelled the score. The teams remained evenly matched until 4-4 before the Germans created the first gap at 5-7, forcing Vansnick to call a timeout.

Germany increased the pressure from the service line once again and extended its lead to 6-12. This time, there was no comeback for the Tigers. Germany won the tie-break 8-15 and secured a 2-3 victory to advance to the quarter-finals. Belgium’s European Championship campaign ends after an excellent pool stage and a thrilling round-of-16 encounter.

Started for Belgium

Herbots (17), Lemmens (5), Radovic (16), Nagels (4), Martin (23), Fransen (10) and Rampelberg.

Came on

Van Sas, Koulberg, Demeyer, Verhelst (1), Luyten (2) and Maes (3).