The highly anticipated semifinals of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 will see Italy face Poland and Brazil take on Japan, as the four elite teams compete for a spot in the final.
The top four national teams from the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 Preliminary Phase – Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Poland – have successfully navigated the quarterfinals and are now poised to contend for the prestigious VNL title.
Łódź`s Atlas Arena will host the semifinals on Saturday. Kicking off the action at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) will be Italy against tournament hosts Poland. This will be followed by the clash between Brazil and Japan at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT). The victorious teams will advance to Sunday`s gold medal match at 20:00, while the losing sides will compete for the bronze medal four hours prior.
Remarkably, this year`s VNL semifinals mirror those of the previous season, underscoring the consistent dominance of these four nations, who also rank among the top teams globally according to the FIVB World Rankings. In 2024, Italy triumphed over Poland in their semifinal before claiming the VNL title against Japan, who had previously overcome Brazil.
Italy, the reigning champions and also winners in 2022, arrive at the semifinals in formidable shape. They concluded the Preliminary Phase undefeated and swept aside the United States in the quarterfinals. The Italian squad boasts an impressive record of 13 consecutive victories in the VNL 2025, extending their overall winning streak to 27 matches, a run that began over a year ago during the 2024 VNL season.
Boasting a roster of international stars including opposite Paola Egonu, libero Monica De Gennaro, setter Alessia Orro, and middle blocker Anna Danesi, the reigning Olympic champions are currently the team to overcome in international volleyball. They aim to solidify their elite status by adding another VNL trophy to their collection.
Outside hitter Alice Degradi expressed her anticipation, stating, “We’re excited for a significant challenge against Poland. I anticipate this match will be distinct from last year’s encounter, so we need to move past that and be prepared to create a new narrative. As a team, we feel confident and have performed exceptionally well throughout the VNL, but we are now entering competition against the world`s top teams.”
Poland secured fourth place in the Preliminary Phase with nine wins and three losses, demonstrating resilience by overcoming China in a thrilling five-set quarterfinal match. Having earned bronze medals in the previous two VNL editions, the Polish team will be relying on their passionate home crowd to propel them into the gold medal match.
To achieve this, coach Stefano Lavarini`s team must overcome the world`s top-ranked side. Key to their success will be stellar performances from players such as opposite Magdalena Stysiak, middle blocker Agnieszka Korneluk, and outside hitters Martyna Łukasik and Martyna Czyrniańska.
Libero Aleksandra Szczygłowska commented, “We will concentrate on our own game and exert every effort to create an upset in the semifinals.”
Their most recent encounter was in last year`s VNL semifinals. Looking at their last ten matches, the rivalry remains finely balanced, with each team securing five victories.
Brazil and Japan Eyeing Redemption
Brazil, finishing second in the Preliminary Phase with an impressive 12 wins and only one loss, advanced to the semifinals after a dominant straight-sets victory over Germany in the quarterfinals. This marks Brazil`s sixth VNL semifinal appearance, yet they are still seeking their inaugural title, having previously secured silver medals in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Despite losing their top VNL scorer, outside hitter Ana Cristina Souza, to injury during the Finals, head coach José ‘Zé Roberto’ Guimarães still commands a formidable roster. The team retains significant attacking prowess with star outside hitters Gabriela ‘Gabi’ Guimarães and Julia Bergmann, opposite Rosamaria Montibeller, and middle blocker Julia Kudiess, all providing consistent scoring threats.
Rosamaria emphasized the need for patience against Japan, stating, “We’ll need to be extremely patient. Having played in Japan for the past two seasons, I am very familiar with their exceptional defensive system, and we will need to devise effective strategies to counter it. Our focus remains on cohesive teamwork and relentless effort.”
Japan, the silver medalists from last year, secured third place in the Preliminary Phase with a record of nine wins and three losses. They earned their return to the semifinals after an arduous five-set victory over Türkiye in the quarterfinals.
Under the guidance of new Turkish coach Ferhat Akbaş, Japan relies on its characteristic fast-paced playing style and the individual talent of players such as outside hitter Mayu Ishikawa, opposite Yukiko Wada, setter Nanami Seki, and libero Manami Kojima, as they aim to reach the gold medal match once more.
Outside hitter Yoshino Sato acknowledged the upcoming challenge, stating, “We face another significant test in the semifinals. We recently suffered a 3-0 defeat against Brazil, and we are eager for revenge in that match to demonstrate what we`ve learned from that loss.”
Brazil and Japan have faced each other twice since their semifinal clash last year, with the South American squad emerging victorious in both encounters – once during the Paris 2024 Olympics pool play and again in the VNL 2025 Preliminary Phase. Over their last ten meetings, Brazil holds a significant advantage, with eight wins to Japan`s two.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick