13 facts: how dangerous is Turkey, Latvia's first opponent at the Volleyball Euros

Latvia's women's national volleyball team begins its European Championship campaign on Friday, facing Turkey in its opening match. Experts widely tip Turkey, alongside Italy, as the leading contender for gold, ranking them above Serbia and Poland.

The tournament's final phase will be held in Istanbul, giving Turkey home-court advantage. The team is both the reigning European champion (since 2023) and the winner of the Nations League, the world's strongest volleyball competition for national teams. Volleyball receives substantial state funding in Turkey and is the country's most popular women's sport, while its domestic league ranks among the strongest in the world both athletically and financially.

Star power

Turkey's attack is led by Cuban-born, later naturalized Melissa Vargas, regarded as one of the most dangerous hitters in the world and named MVP of the 2023 European Championship finals. Captain Eda Erdem and Zehra Güneş provide a nearly impenetrable block and versatile attacking options at the net. The team is coached by Italian specialist Daniele Santarelli, who previously led Serbia's national team to a world championship title before joining Turkey.

An impressive record

This will be Turkey's 17th European Championship finals appearance since its debut in 1963, and the team has featured in every finals since 2003. Turkey has opened its last ten European Championships with winning streaks, including a comeback win over Serbia in the 2023 final after trailing in the match. That year the team lost just one set in the group stage, though Olympic and World Championship medals still elude it.

All six of Turkey's European Championship medals (one gold, two silvers, three bronzes) have been won since 2003, and the team has reached the podium at each of the last four editions. Only Serbia currently holds a longer medal streak. Turkey's recent finals losses have come specifically against Serbia, while the last other team to beat Turkey at a European Championship finals was Bulgaria, back in 2017.