The Brazilians started and finished strong against a talented German team, securing their place in the tournament`s final four.
As the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 finals intensify, the battle for supremacy reached a critical juncture in Łódź, Poland. The spotlight on Thursday fell squarely on the last quarterfinal clash, where South American powerhouse Brazil delivered a commanding performance against Germany, ultimately sweeping their European counterparts to seize the final coveted spot in the tournament`s semifinals.
A Decisive Victory: Brazil`s Path to the Semis
Brazil, who had demonstrated consistent form throughout the Preliminary Phase as the second-best team, entered the Atlas Arena with a clear objective: advance. They executed their plan with clinical precision, securing an emphatic 3-0 victory over Germany with set scores of 25-19, 26-24, and 25-14. While the first and third sets showcased Brazil’s undeniable dominance, the second set offered a more tightly contested affair, proving that Germany, despite the loss, was not without fight. However, Brazil`s composure in crucial moments ultimately prevailed.
Star Performances and Strategic Edge
The Brazilian squad`s success was significantly propelled by the veteran leadership and scoring prowess of their Olympic medalists. Opposite hitter Rosamaria Montibeller delivered a standout performance, tallying 13 points, all from powerful kills – her second-best offensive output in the VNL 2025 campaign. Team captain Gabriela ‘Gabi’ Guimarães mirrored this excellence, contributing 12 points, including ten kills and two crucial blocks.
“The most important moment of the VNL is now, and I think our team is growing,” Rosamaria commented post-match. “We did an amazing job so far, but we want to keep growing. Germany played great during the entire VNL, and we needed to be very patient today and to focus on what we had to do. I hope we can keep doing this in the semifinals.”
On the German side, despite the loss, outside hitter Lina Alsmeier was their most productive player with 11 points, all from kills. Unfortunately, her departure from the match in the third set due to an ankle injury cast a shadow over Germany’s performance. Fellow outside hitter Lena Stigrot and middle blocker Anastasia Cekulaev each added eight points to the German tally.
“This VNL was certainly the best that we played,” reflected German middle blocker and team captain Camilla Weitzel. “That makes it extra sad for us that we exit like this. We wanted to play better, but Brazil were the best team, and congratulations to them. It was an amazing experience, and we found a really good rhythm together. That’s what we’re going to take to the World Championship. We saw today that there’s a long way for us to go, but we’ll get there.”
Statistically, Brazil`s command at the net was evident, outscoring Germany in kills (39 to 36) and blocks (11 to five). While Germany edged them slightly in aces (five to three), Brazil`s superior discipline in minimizing errors proved decisive, conceding only 11 points to Germany`s 23 through unforced mistakes. This disciplined approach underscores why Brazil now boasts an impressive 11-match winning streak in the VNL.
Looking Ahead: Semifinal Showdowns
With Brazil`s victory, the VNL 2025 semifinal lineup is complete, setting the stage for two highly anticipated rematches from the previous year`s tournament. The schedule for Saturday, July 26th, promises intense competition:
- Brazil vs. Japan: Set for 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT), this clash is a direct repeat of last year`s VNL semifinals. Japan earned their spot by eliminating Türkiye earlier on Thursday.
- Italy vs. Poland: Kicking off the semifinal action at 16:00 (14:00 GMT), this match also revisits a semifinal pairing from the sixth edition of the tournament.
For Brazil, reaching the VNL semifinals marks their sixth appearance in seven editions of the tournament. Despite their consistent presence at the sharp end of the competition, a VNL title has remained elusive. They have secured silver medals in 2019, 2021, and 2022, and finished fourth in 2018 and 2024. This year, the South American giants are once again poised to make a formidable attempt at capturing their inaugural VNL championship.
The stage is now set in Łódź for a weekend of elite volleyball, where established rivalries will be rekindled and new chapters in VNL history will be written. The quest for gold continues.
