The stage is meticulously groomed, the sun-drenched sand of Düsseldorf, Germany, beckons, and the air crackles with the palpable energy of anticipation. As the 33rd edition of the CEV EuroBeachVolley fast approaches, Europe`s beach volleyball elite are converging, poised to engage in a high-stakes battle for continental supremacy. This isn`t merely another tournament; it’s a grand spectacle where Olympic champions, battle-hardened veterans, and surging new talents will collide under the discerning gaze of the German crowd. With 32 formidable men`s teams vying for the coveted gold, the competition promises to be as unyielding as the summer heat. Let’s peel back the layers of narrative embedded within the initial pool play, focusing on the compelling Pools A through D, where the first chapters of championship dreams are written.
Returning to Germany for the fourth time in the event`s storied history, the EuroBeachVolley is set to transform the venerable Rochus Club into a pulsating arena of athletic theatre. The tournament format, while familiar, remains a demanding crucible: 32 teams are judiciously split into eight pools of four. Each pairing will engage in a modified pool play, competing twice. The coveted prize for those who navigate this initial phase with unblemished precision? A direct, invaluable ticket to the Round of 16. For those who find themselves in the slightly less enviable positions of second and third in their respective pools, the path to glory elongates, requiring an additional, high-pressure detour through the Round of 24. From the opening serves on Wednesday to the exhilarating medal matches on Sunday, every strategic spike, every defiant block, and every desperate dig will resonate with the profound championship aspirations of these remarkable athletes.
Pool A: The Reign of the Vikings and the Aspirations of Challengers
Teams: Anders Mol/Christian Sørum (Norway), Hugo Campos/João Pedrosa (Portugal), Benedikt Sagstetter/Jonas Sagstetter (Germany), Ardis Bedritis/Arturs Rinkevics (Latvia)
In Pool A, all eyes are, quite justifiably, fixated on the Norwegian behemoths, Anders Mol and Christian Sørum. These “Beach Volley Vikings” transcend mere participation; they embody a legacy. Their impressive résumé reads like a meticulously crafted highlight reel: Olympic champions, world champions, and four-time EuroBeachVolley gold medalists. They are the undeniable, almost pre-ordained, favorites to secure direct passage to the Round of 16.
Yet, the inherent beauty of beach volleyball lies in its capacity for delightful chaos, even when legends are at play. Portugal’s Campos and Pedrosa have sporadically showcased bursts of brilliance, including a noteworthy Beach Pro Tour triumph, though an elusive consistency often remains their undoing. The German brothers, Benedikt and Jonas Sagstetter, making their EuroBeachVolley debut on hallowed home turf, carry the resonant hopes of the local faithful. Their recent fifth-place finish at the Ostrava Elite event hints at their latent grit, if not yet a sustained elite-level experience. And then, standing somewhat in the shadows, are Latvia’s Bedritis and Rinkevics. As newcomers to this grand stage, they embody the purest form of the “nothing to lose” philosophy. Having partnered for several years, a relaxed, unburdened approach in such a high-stakes pool could very well be their clandestine weapon, potentially disrupting the meticulously strategized plans of their more celebrated adversaries. While Mol and Sørum are heavily favored to advance unhindered, the immediate skirmish for the remaining qualification spots promises early, compelling drama, particularly between the Portuguese and German duos on opening day.
Pool B: The Gauntlet of Champions – A Veritable “Group of Death”
Teams: David Åhman/Jonatan Hellvig (Sweden), Rémi Bassereau/Calvin Aye (France), Alexander Brouwer/Steven van de Velde (Netherlands), Samuele Cottafava/Enrico Rossi (Italy)
If Pool A represents a confident coronation, then Pool B can only be described as a gladiatorial arena, a crucible forged in the fires of unforgiving competition. The reigning Olympic champions and two-time EuroBeachVolley victors, Sweden’s David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig, were, let`s just say, “graciously endowed” with a draw that feels less like a conventional pool and more like a high-stakes poker game where every player holds a royal flush. This isn`t merely any pool; it features five additional Olympians and a robust roster of internationally seasoned competitors. It`s the kind of group that causes even the most stoic analysts to wipe their brow. A genuine “group of death” in every conceivable sense.
France’s Bássereau and Aye have steadily, almost meticulously, ascended the ranks since their partnership commenced last year, consistently delivering robust performances on the international circuit. The Dutch powerhouse, Alexander Brouwer and Steven van de Velde, though a relatively new pairing this season, collectively bring a wealth of individual EuroBeachVolley medal experience from previous successful partnerships. They unquestionably possess the pedigree and the strategic acumen to contend for top honors. And then, completing this formidable quartet, are Italy`s Cottafava and Rossi, a duo newly formed specifically for this tournament. While their on-court chemistry as partners might still be in its nascent stages, their individual talents are irrefutable, rendering them perfectly capable of orchestrating an upset against any opponent on a given day. Predicting the definitive outcome of Pool B feels akin to attempting to read ancient hieroglyphs – it promises to be thrilling, utterly unpredictable, and absolutely guaranteed to deliver high-octane beach volleyball drama from the very first whistle.
Pool C: The Unpredictable Reign and Resurgent Hopes
Teams: Martins Plavins/Kristians Fokerots (Latvia), Téo Rotar/Arnaud Gauthier-Rat (France), Philipp Huster/Maximilian Just (Germany), Jakub Sepka/Jiri Sedlak (Czechia)
Pool C introduces us to the reigning European champions, Latvia’s Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots. Their triumph last year was nothing short of sensational, a masterful underdog victory that captivated the entire beach volleyball world. While they haven`t consistently replicated that gold-medal consistency since their shock win, Plavins` extensive, strategic experience combined with Fokerots` continuous, marked improvement makes them an inherently dangerous wildcard. The burning question on every fan`s mind: can they once again conjure another magical, deep run in Düsseldorf?
Opposing them are France’s Rotar and Gauthier-Rat, a demonstrably formidable duo who played a pivotal role in France’s CEV Beach Nations Cup victory and have consistently delivered strong performances on the highly competitive Beach Pro Tour. Germany’s Huster and Just, another recently forged team, exhibited early, promising flashes of brilliance with a fourth-place finish at the Haikou Challenge, although they have since found it challenging to sustain that initial momentum. The Czech pairing of Sepka and Sedlak might be less globally renowned on the elite circuit, but their surprising and impressive fifth-place finish at the last EuroBeachVolley unequivocally proves they possess the innate ability to rise magnificently to the occasion. While the Latvians and French are widely tipped as the favorites to progress, this pool is decidedly far from a foregone conclusion. The intense battle for the crucial third qualification spot, or even a truly stunning upset that reshapes the top two, remains very much an open and exciting proposition.
Pool D: The Nordic Ascent and Veteran Resilience
Teams: Hendrik Mol/Mathias Berntsen (Norway), Matthew Immers/Ruben Penninga (Netherlands), Sergiy Popov/Eduard Reznik (Ukraine), Adrian Heidrich/Jonathan Jordan (Switzerland)
Rounding out our initial, compelling preview is Pool D, confidently spearheaded by Norway’s Hendrik Mol and Mathias Berntsen. This dynamic duo has been on a consistent, upward trajectory, a journey that recently culminated in their hard-fought CEV Beach Nations Cup gold. They arrive in Düsseldorf with elevated expectations and the top seed in their pool, but their projected path ahead is certainly not devoid of intriguing and potentially challenging obstacles.
The Netherlands fields the promising duo of Matthew Immers and Ruben Penninga. Immers, a Paris Olympian and a respected EuroBeachVolley medalist, is widely celebrated as one of Europe`s premier defenders, and his nascent partnership with Penninga has already demonstrated significant, early promise. Ukraine`s Sergiy Popov and Eduard Reznik etched their names into history by earning their nation`s inaugural EuroBeachVolley medal with a hard-earned bronze in 2023. While they haven`t consistently reached those lofty heights since, their potent combination of a powerful, physical blocker and a skilled, intelligent defender renders them a consistently challenging opponent for any team. Finally, Switzerland’s Adrian Heidrich and Jonathan Jordan complete the pool. Heidrich, a seasoned Tokyo Olympian, has skillfully revitalized his career this season with Jordan, and this prestigious tournament provides a critical, high-profile platform to translate their commendable Futures-level success onto the grand, main stage. While the Norwegians are well-positioned for confident advancement, the intense, nuanced battle for the second and third qualification spots, particularly between the Dutch and Ukrainian teams, promises to be a captivating affair, potentially influencing the entire pool`s dynamic balance.
As the final countdown to EuroBeachVolley 2025 relentlessly shortens, the anticipation for these initial men`s pool battles only intensifies. From the seemingly inevitable, dominant progress of some pre-tournament favorites to the nail-biting, utterly unpredictable uncertainty surrounding others, Düsseldorf is impeccably poised to deliver a beach volleyball championship rich with intricate strategic play, breathtaking raw athleticism, and truly unexpected heroics. The golden sand awaits, and so do we, with bated breath, for the very first serve of what promises to be an unforgettable week of elite European beach volleyball.
Torin Vale