Croatia emerged victorious against Estonia in a dramatic five-set match, securing their place in the CEV Golden League Final Four tournament. The match, reminiscent of their 2021 European Championship clash, saw Croatia overcome a tough Estonian side after 149 minutes of intense play.
Croatia’s coach, Igor Juričić, started with a well-established lineup: Petar Višić as the setter, Petar Đirlić as the opposite, Ivan Zeljković and Marko Sedlaček as outside hitters, Kruno Nikačević and Sven Jakopec as middle blockers, and Hrvoje Pervan as the libero.
The first set saw Croatia take a commanding lead, ending 25-20 after solid performances and strategic plays. The second set was closely contested, with Estonia fighting back to win 26-24. Croatia regained momentum in the third set, winning 25-21, but Estonia pushed back hard in the fourth, taking it 25-19.
In the decisive fifth set, Croatia’s composure led them to a 15-13 victory. Key moment included decisive blocks by Sven Jakopec.
In the other semifinal, Ukraine defeated the Czech Republic 3-0, setting up a final showdown with Croatia. Both finalists have also secured spots in the FIVB Challenger Cup, a qualifier for the 2025 Volleyball Nations League.
