Greece vs Egypt

Egypt's elimination from quarter-final contention before this match removed some of the competitive tension, but Greece's approach showed no sign of complacency. The real turning point came in the opening exchanges of the first set, when Greece established a multi-point lead and never let Egypt back into striking distance. From there, the Greeks played with the freedom of a side already tournament-tested against Spain's high-quality attack four days earlier.

Greece's middle blockers continued their outstanding tournament form. After stifling Spain's attack in the 24 August encounter, they proved equally effective against Egypt, generating crucial stuff blocks that repeatedly stalled Egyptian scoring runs.

The Greek setter distributed efficiently, keeping Egypt's blockers off balance and creating one-on-one hitting opportunities for the outside hitters. Egypt's offensive leaders found few clean looks, with most of their attacks coming against a fully set Greek block.

Player of the match: Greece's middle blocker, whose net presence has been the defensive backbone of the team's three wins.

The 3-0 scoreline continues a clear pattern: Greece have now lost only one set across their three group matches — the 28-30 first set against Spain — and have held opponents to 19 points or fewer in five of the nine sets they have won. That defensive consistency, built on serving pressure and disciplined blocking, has been the hallmark of their Mediterranean Games campaign. Egypt, by contrast, managed only one set win across their three group matches (the second set against Turkey on 24 August), underlining the gap between the group's top and bottom sides.

Greece finish Group B with a perfect 3-0 record (9 sets won, 1 lost) and advance to the quarter-finals on 29 August as group winners. Their likely opponent will come from Group A, where France, Italy and Tunisia are competing for the top spots. Egypt exit the tournament after three consecutive losses, finishing 0-3 in Group B with just one set won across the entire group phase.

For Greece, the quarter-final represents the next step in a tournament that has exceeded expectations. After entering as outsiders against Spain — historically dominant with 10 wins in 11 previous meetings dating to 2011 — the Greeks have emerged as one of the tournament's most coherent units.

Greece did what a tournament contender should against an eliminated opponent: no fuss, no dropped sets, no drama. The real test comes in the quarter-finals on 29 August, but the foundations laid in this group-stage sweep — particularly the defensive solidity that has rattled every opponent — give them genuine medal aspirations in Taranto.