Germany's men's volleyball team set a new world record by winning the first set against Italy with 66:64 on August 27, 2026.[358193][347191] The team, led by Bundestrainer Botti, was seen as a strong contender for the upcoming EM, but their victory was more than just a test.[358193][347191] Germany's players were left fassungslos and exhausted after the game, which lasted an impressive 89 minutes.[358193][347191] The team's performance was marked by 28 italienische Satzbälle (Italian sentences) being successfully defended, while they also allowed 43 of Italy's sentences to be defended.[358193][347191] The win marks a significant achievement for the German team, who are looking to make a strong showing in the upcoming EM.[358193][347191]