Romania's national team managed a sensational 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-18, 25-21) victory over reigning Olympic champion France on Monday in Tel Aviv-Yafo in its last match in Pool D of the 2023 Men's European Volleyball Championship, a success that has brought its qualification to the round of sixteen.
Romania had a slow start in the competition, with two defeats, 0-3 against Portugal and 2-3 against Israel, but then won three consecutive games, 3-2 against Turkey, 3-1 against Greece and 3-1 against France, agerpres reports.
In the rankings, France is first with 3 wins (9 points), followed by Portugal, 3 wins (9 p), Romania, 3 wins (9 p), Israel, 2 wins (4 p), Turkey, 1 win (5 p), Greece, 1 win (3 p). The remaining matches are Greece - France and Turkey - Israel (both on September 5).
The top four teams qualify for the round of sixteen and Romania cannot drop from third place, so they will play the second-ranked team in Pool B on September 9 in Varna (Bulgaria).
The European Championship takes place in Israel, Italy, Bulgaria and North Macedonia from August 28 to September 16.
Romania ranked 21st at the previous European Championship it attended in 2019. The record of the tricolor team includes a European title in 1963, two silver medals (1955, 1958) and two bronze medals (1971, 1977).