Poland wins the FIVB Men’s World Championship 2014

The victory of the home team put an end to the string of three consecutive titles won by Brazil starting in 2002 in Buenos Aires and continuing in 2006 in Japan and 2010 in Italy. It was the second gold medal attained by Poland in the history of the event which was inaugurated in 1949, with the previous one accomplished forty years ago when competition took place in Mexico in 1974. Poland also claimed the silver medal in 2006 when the quadrennial tournament was held in Japan. They lost 3-0 the final encounter with Brazil. Poland became the fourth team in the history of the competition to be crowned at their own soil joining the Soviet Union (twice) and Czechoslovakia. The Soviet Union won in Moscow in 1952 and 1962 while Czechoslovakia triumphed in Prague in 1966. It was the second defeat of Brazil during the competition both at the hands of Poland with the previous one a 3-2 decision on September 16 during the third round. Poland’s only loss in the event was in the second roun