The victory came just one day after Serbia suffered a 3–0 defeat to hosts Türkiye in the semi-final. Despite missing out on the final, Zoran Terzić’s team responded strongly and finished the tournament on the podium.
Serbia controlled the opening two sets, taking a 2–0 lead before Poland fought back to win the third 25–15. The Serbian side regained its composure in the fourth set, building a decisive advantage and closing out the match 25–18.
The result gives Serbia its ninth European Championship medal, adding a third bronze to its collection alongside three gold and three silver medals. The previous European bronze medals came in 1951 and 2015.
Captain Maja Ognjenović described the medal as deserved, highlighting the team’s ability to recover after the difficult semi-final. She also said she was proud of the way the team bounced back and stressed that the bronze was important after the previous day’s performance.
For Serbia, the tournament also marked a significant transition, with seven players making their European Championship debuts, while experienced stars such as Tijana Bošković and Ognjenović continued to lead the team.
Serbia therefore leaves Istanbul with another European medal — its ninth overall and third bronze.
