# 1997 Men's European Volleyball Championship qualification

The 1997 Men's European Volleyball Championship Qualification was the qualifying event for the 20th edition of the event, hosted in Eindhoven and Den Bosch, The Netherlands from 6 September to 14 September 1997, and organised by Europe's governing volleyball body, the European Volleyball Confederation. The qualifying matches were played in 1996 and 1997. The Netherlands qualified as hosts while Italy, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Russia automatically qualified from the 1995 edition of the Men's European Volleyball Championship. The five group winners and two teams from promotion round qualified for the 1997 edition.

## Qualification summary
### Qualified teams

* Hosts
** Netherlands
* Directly qualified after 1995 edition
** Italy
** Yugoslavia
** Bulgaria
** Russia
* Qualified through qualification
** Group A: Slovakia
** Group B: Greece
** Group C: France
** Group D: Ukraine
** Group E: Czech Republic
* Qualified through promotion round
** Finland
** Germany

## Groups round

All games were played in home/away basis.

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Slovakia | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 1.778 | 342 | 299 | 1.144 | 1997 European Championship |
| 2 | Poland | 6 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 1.273 | 315 | 297 | 1.061 | Promotion round |
| 3 | Israel | 6 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 0.917 | 273 | 295 | 0.925 | |
| 4 | Latvia | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 0.471 | 299 | 338 | 0.885 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 14 Sep | Slovakia | 3–2 | Poland | 13–15 | 15–7 | 10–15 | 15–2 | 17–15 | 70–54 |
| 21 Sep | Slovakia | 3–1 | Latvia | 15–13 | 15–11 | 12–15 | 15–9 | | 57–48 |
| 28 Dec | Israel | 3–1 | Poland | 15–6 | 9–15 | 16–14 | 15–8 | | 55–43 |
| 12 Apr | Israel | 3–1 | Latvia | 15–9 | 5–15 | 15–13 | 15–4 | | 50–41 |
| 19 Apr | Latvia | 3–2 | Israel | 15–4 | 15–13 | 13–15 | 16–17 | 15–13 | 74–62 |
| 23 Apr | Poland | 3–0 | Israel | 15–8 | 15–8 | 15–9 | | | 45–25 |
| 26 Apr | Latvia | 1–3 | Slovakia | 15–17 | 15–11 | 9–15 | 14–16 | | 53–59 |
| 3 May | Poland | 3–1 | Latvia | 13–15 | 15–8 | 15–8 | 15–8 | | 58–39 |
| 10 May | Poland | 2–3 | Slovakia | 12–15 | 15–5 | 16–14 | 12–15 | 8–15 | 63–64 |
| 17 May | Israel | 3–1 | Slovakia | 12–15 | 15–11 | 15–11 | 15–10 | | 57–47 |
| 24 May | Slovakia | 3–0 | Israel | 15–6 | 15–10 | 15–8 | | | 45–24 |
| 31 May | Latvia | 1–3 | Poland | 6–15 | 15–7 | 13–15 | 10–15 | | 44–52 |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Greece | 6 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 3.750 | 254 | 187 | 1.358 | 1997 European Championship |
| 2 | Belgium | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 1.714 | 259 | 172 | 1.506 | Promotion round |
| 3 | Romania | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 0.900 | 216 | 236 | 0.915 | |
| 4 | Macedonia | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 0.167 | 175 | 309 | 0.566 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 7 Jul | Romania | 0–3 | Greece | 10–15 | 8–15 | 10–15 | | 28–45 |
| 26 Oct | Macedonia | 0–3 | Romania | 7–15 | 12–15 | 9–15 | | 28–45 |
| 2 Nov | Romania | 3–1 | Macedonia | 9–15 | 15–5 | 15–12 | 15–13 | 54–45 |
| 23 Nov | Romania | 3–1 | Belgium | 15–9 | 15–7 | 15–12 | | 45–28 |
| 15 Dec | Belgium | 3–0 | Macedonia | 15–4 | 15–9 | 15–4 | | 45–17 |
| 30 Dec | Belgium | 3–0 | Greece | 15–6 | 15–4 | 15–4 | | 45–14 |
| 30 Apr | Macedonia | 1–3 | Greece | 17–15 | 4–15 | 10–15 | 4–15 | 35–60 |
| 10 May | Greece | 3–0 | Macedonia | 15–6 | 15–10 | 15–7 | | 45–23 |
| 14 May | Greece | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–12 | 15–11 | 15–13 | | 45–36 |
| 17 May | Macedonia | 1–3 | Belgium | 2–15 | 17–15 | 1–15 | 7–15 | 27–60 |
| 20 May | Greece | 3–0 | Romania | 15–8 | 15–3 | 15–9 | | 45–20 |
| 24 May | Belgium | 3–0 | Romania | 15–6 | 15–8 | 15–10 | | 45–24 |

### Group C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | France | 8 | 7 | 1 | 20 | 22 | 6 | 3.667 | 390 | 286 | 1.364 | 1997 European Championship |
| 2 | Germany | 8 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 11 | 1.636 | 389 | 319 | 1.219 | Promotion round |
| 3 | Turkey | 8 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 1.500 | 360 | 335 | 1.075 | |
| 4 | Sweden | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 0.429 | 344 | 398 | 0.864 | |
| 5 | Belarus | 8 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 0.190 | 211 | 356 | 0.593 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 8 Sep | France | 3–0 | Belarus | 15–11 | 15–9 | 15–2 | | | 45–22 |
| 15 Sep | France | 3–0 | Sweden | 15–7 | 15–13 | 15–5 | | | 45–25 |
| 22 Sep | Sweden | 3–1 | Belarus | 15–11 | 12–15 | 15–9 | 15–7 | | 57–42 |
| 26 Oct | Turkey | 3–1 | France | 12–15 | 15–10 | 15–6 | 15–13 | | 57–44 |
| 3 Nov | Belarus | 0–3 | France | 6–15 | 2–15 | 7–15 | | | 15–45 |
| 20 Nov | France | 3–0 | Turkey | 15–5 | 15–3 | 15–8 | | | 45–16 |
| 14 Dec | Germany | 3–0 | Belarus | 15–3 | 15–6 | 15–8 | | | 45–17 |
| 21 Dec | Belarus | 0–3 | Turkey | 10–15 | 6–15 | 12–15 | | | 28–45 |
| 21 Dec | Germany | 3–0 | Sweden | 15–6 | 15–11 | 15–9 | | | 45–26 |
| 4 Jan | Sweden | 1–3 | Germany | 15–12 | 16–17 | 6–15 | 13–15 | | 50–59 |
| 19 Mar | Turkey | 3–0 | Belarus | 15–9 | 15–4 | 15–4 | | | 45–17 |
| 18 Apr | Turkey | 3–1 | Germany | 15–8 | 15–6 | 10–15 | 15–10 | | 55–39 |
| 26 Apr | Belarus | 0–3 | Germany | 10–15 | 4–15 | 11–15 | | | 25–45 |
| 30 Apr | France | 3–2 | Germany | 10–15 | 15–12 | 15–7 | 7–15 | 21–19 | 68–68 |
| 7 May | Sweden | 3–2 | Turkey | 15–10 | 15–6 | 13–15 | 12–15 | 15–12 | 70–58 |
| 8 May | Germany | 0–3 | France | 12–15 | 13–15 | 11–15 | | | 36–45 |
| 11 May | Germany | 3–1 | Turkey | 7–15 | 15–4 | 15–12 | 15–2 | | 52–33 |
| 13 May | Sweden | 1–3 | France | 14–16 | 7–15 | 15–7 | 11–15 | | 47–53 |
| 18 May | Turkey | 3–1 | Sweden | 15–11 | 6–15 | 15–6 | 15–8 | | 51–40 |
| 25 May | Belarus | 3–0 | Sweden | 15–13 | 15–13 | 15–3 | | | 45–29 |

### Group D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Ukraine | 8 | 8 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 2 | 12.000 | 381 | 217 | 1.756 | 1997 European Championship |
| 2 | Portugal | 8 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 1.067 | 378 | 363 | 1.041 | Promotion round |
| 3 | Hungary | 8 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 0.882 | 393 | 424 | 0.927 | |
| 4 | Croatia | 8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 0.647 | 305 | 370 | 0.824 | |
| 5 | Denmark | 8 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 0.375 | 380 | 463 | 0.821 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 8 Jun | Croatia | 1–3 | Hungary | 9–15 | 17–16 | 15–17 | 12–15 | | 53–63 |
| 15 Jun | Hungary | 3–0 | Croatia | 15–9 | 15–8 | 15–13 | | | 45–30 |
| 18 Sep | Denmark | 2–3 | Hungary | 15–9 | 11–15 | 15–17 | 15–13 | 13–15 | 69–69 |
| 14 Dec | Hungary | 3–2 | Denmark | 15–12 | 15–5 | 12–15 | 10–15 | 15–11 | 67–58 |
| 21 Dec | Denmark | 2–3 | Portugal | 13–15 | 5–15 | 15–11 | 15–13 | 12–15 | 60–69 |
| 14 Apr | Denmark | 2–3 | Croatia | 5–15 | 15–9 | 10–15 | 15–11 | 9–15 | 54–65 |
| 18 Apr | Croatia | 3–0 | Denmark | 15–11 | 15–8 | 15–13 | | | 45–32 |
| 19 Apr | Portugal | 3–1 | Hungary | 15–3 | 13–15 | 15–8 | 15–1 | | 58–27 |
| 23 Apr | Hungary | 0–3 | Ukraine | 3–15 | 13–15 | 8–15 | | | 24–45 |
| 26 Apr | Hungary | 2–3 | Portugal | 15–7 | 11–15 | 15–13 | 13–15 | 12–15 | 66–65 |
| 30 Apr | Ukraine | 3–0 | Hungary | 16–14 | 15–10 | 15–8 | | | 46–32 |
| 3 May | Portugal | 3–0 | Denmark | 15–11 | 15–12 | 16–14 | | | 46–37 |
| 7 May | Denmark | 1–3 | Ukraine | 13–15 | 11–15 | 15–12 | 9–15 | | 48–57 |
| 10 May | Portugal | 3–1 | Croatia | 15–4 | 13–15 | 15–4 | 15–7 | | 58–30 |
| 11 May | Ukraine | 3–0 | Denmark | 15–5 | 15–12 | 15–5 | | | 45–22 |
| 15 May | Portugal | 1–3 | Ukraine | 15–8 | 7–15 | 7–15 | 10–15 | | 39–53 |
| 18 May | Croatia | 0–3 | Ukraine | 11–15 | 11–15 | 5–15 | | | 27–45 |
| 24 May | Croatia | 3–0 | Portugal | 15–7 | 15–12 | 15–9 | | | 45–28 |
| 28 May | Ukraine | 3–0 | Portugal | 15–4 | 15–3 | 15–8 | | | 45–15 |
| 31 May | Ukraine | 3–0 | Croatia | 15–3 | 15–6 | 15–1 | | | 45–10 |

### Group E

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Czech Republic | 8 | 7 | 1 | 21 | 22 | 7 | 3.143 | 389 | 289 | 1.346 | 1997 European Championship |
| 2 | Finland | 8 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 11 | 1.636 | 378 | 321 | 1.178 | Promotion round |
| 3 | Spain | 8 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 12 | 1.500 | 409 | 358 | 1.142 | |
| 4 | Slovenia | 8 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 19 | 0.579 | 328 | 405 | 0.810 | |
| 5 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 24 | 0.375 | 265 | 396 | 0.669 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 16 Nov | Spain | 3–0 | Finland | 15–13 | 16–14 | 15–10 | | | 46–37 |
| 20 Nov | Spain | 3–0 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 15–6 | 15–6 | 15–5 | | | 45–17 |
| 23 Nov | Finland | 3–1 | Spain | 11–15 | 15–8 | 15–9 | 17–15 | | 58–47 |
| 28 Dec | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–3 | Czech Republic | 7–15 | 13–15 | 15–7 | 5–15 | | 40–52 |
| 27 Apr | Czech Republic | 3–0 | Spain | 15–10 | 16–14 | 15–12 | | | 46–36 |
| 30 Apr | Czech Republic | 3–0 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 15–6 | 16–14 | 15–6 | | | 46–26 |
| 30 Apr | Finland | 3–0 | Slovenia | 15–4 | 15–7 | 15–10 | | | 45–21 |
| 3 May | Slovenia | 3–0 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 15–11 | 15–8 | 15–6 | | | 45–25 |
| 4 May | Finland | 3–1 | Czech Republic | 15–10 | 15–6 | 0–15 | 15–3 | | 45–34 |
| 8 May | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–3 | Spain | 16–14 | 6–15 | 6–15 | 7–15 | | 35–59 |
| 10 May | Slovenia | 3–2 | Finland | 12–15 | 7–15 | 15–9 | 16–14 | 15–12 | 65–65 |
| 11 May | Spain | 2–3 | Czech Republic | 12–15 | 15–11 | 15–13 | 7–15 | 13–15 | 62–69 |
| 13 May | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0–3 | Finland | 14–16 | 5–15 | 7–15 | | | 26–46 |
| 14 May | Slovenia | 2–3 | Spain | 12–15 | 15–11 | 15–13 | 7–15 | 13–15 | 62–69 |
| 21 May | Spain | 3–0 | Slovenia | 15–13 | 15–10 | 15–11 | | | 45–34 |
| 24 May | Finland | 3–0 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 15–8 | 15–13 | 15–9 | | | 45–30 |
| 24 May | Slovenia | 0–3 | Czech Republic | 4–15 | 11–15 | 2–15 | | | 17–45 |
| 27 May | Czech Republic | 3–0 | Slovenia | 15–11 | 15–8 | 15–7 | | | 45–26 |
| 31 May | Czech Republic | 3–1 | Finland | 7–15 | 15–6 | 15–6 | 15–10 | | 52–37 |
| 31 May | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2–3 | Slovenia | 15–7 | 15–5 | 13–15 | 9–15 | 14–16 | 66–58 |

## Promotion round

* Venue: Vienna, Austria
* Austria added as a host to qualified teams.
All times are local

### Group F

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Belgium | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 2.000 | 245 | 151 | 1.623 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Germany | 5 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 1.625 | 264 | 232 | 1.138 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Poland | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 1.714 | 232 | 223 | 1.040 | Semifinals |
| 4 | Finland | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 0.909 | 271 | 258 | 1.050 | Semifinals |
| 5 | Austria | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 0.538 | 200 | 269 | 0.743 | |
| 6 | Portugal | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 0.400 | 220 | 299 | 0.736 | |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 2 Jul | 15:00 | Belgium | 3–1 | Germany | 11–15 | 15–4 | 15–6 | 15–9 | | 56–34 |
| 2 Jul | 17:30 | Finland | 3–2 | Portugal | 12–15 | 15–8 | 11–15 | 15–9 | 15–11 | 68–58 |
| 2 Jul | 20:00 | Poland | 3–1 | Austria | 7–15 | 15–13 | 15–8 | 15–7 | | 52–43 |
| 3 Jul | 15:00 | Finland | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–11 | 15–9 | 15–12 | | | 45–32 |
| 3 Jul | 17:30 | Poland | 3–0 | Portugal | 16–14 | 15–8 | 15–9 | | | 46–31 |
| 3 Jul | 20:00 | Germany | 3–0 | Austria | 15–3 | 15–8 | 15–3 | | | 45–14 |
| 5 Jul | 15:00 | Belgium | 3–1 | Poland | 15–4 | 11–15 | 15–1 | 15–10 | | 56–30 |
| 5 Jul | 17:30 | Germany | 3–2 | Finland | 17–15 | 8–15 | 15–6 | 6–15 | 15–12 | 61–63 |
| 5 Jul | 20:00 | Austria | 3–2 | Portugal | 12–15 | 12–15 | 15–11 | 15–7 | 15–13 | 69–61 |
| 6 Jul | 15:00 | Germany | 3–2 | Poland | 11–15 | 15–13 | 8–15 | 15–4 | 15–12 | 64–59 |
| 6 Jul | 17:30 | Austria | 3–2 | Finland | 15–10 | 10–15 | 7–15 | 15–13 | 15–13 | 62–66 |
| 6 Jul | 20:00 | Belgium | 3–1 | Portugal | 11–15 | 15–5 | 15–5 | 15–5 | | 56–30 |
| 7 Jul | 15:00 | Poland | 3–0 | Finland | 15–11 | 15–8 | 15–10 | | | 45–29 |
| 7 Jul | 17:30 | Germany | 3–1 | Portugal | 15–17 | 15–10 | 15–7 | 15–6 | | 60–40 |
| 7 Jul | 20:00 | Belgium | 3–0 | Austria | 15–2 | 15–2 | 15–8 | | | 45–12 |

### Semifinals

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 9 Jul | 17:30 | Finland | 3–2 | Belgium | 7–15 | 15–12 | 7–15 | 15–5 | 22–20 | 66–67 | |
| 9 Jul | 20:00 | Germany | 3–1 | Poland | 15–7 | 15–11 | 6–15 | 15–13 | | 51–46 | |

### Third place game

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 10 Jul | 17:30 | Poland | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–9 | 15–5 | 15–9 | | | 45–23 | |

### Final

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 10 Jul | 20:00 | Finland | 3–0 | Germany | 15–9 | 15–13 | 15–10 | | | 45–32 | |

## Final standing

* Qualified to 1997 European Championship
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Finland |
| 2 | Germany |
| 3 | Poland |
| 4 | Belgium |
| 5 | Austria |
| 6 | Portugal |