Favourites coming into the encounter, the Polish side did not disappoint their fierce and highly emotional supporters as they secured a second final berth in three World Championships.

There was barely an inch of difference between the two teams throughout the fixture here, however, the home side recorded the points when it really counted to edge their German opponents in a thrilling four-setter.

The scoreline swung from side to side in the opening exchanges with Poland's 2-0 lead flipped on its head just minutes later as Germany put together a four point streak.

Scoring continued in this fashion for the majority of the first set with four point leads wiped clear as quickly as they were made.

The decisive move came at 24-24 as Poland finally managed to gain the decisive two-point cushion for the set, with Michal Kubiak winning the battle at the net to secure the hosts a 26-24 first set victory.

If the first had been close, the second set was even closer as Germany overturned an 18-11 deficit to tie the scoring at 21 apiece.

After victory in the set was seemingly dashed from under their noses, the Polish side had to dig deep to hold off the German charge.

The home side did well to steady the ship in the final few points of the set with a well timed block at 26-27 giving them the all-important two set cushion.

Almost 11,000 Poland fans made for an incredible atmosphere in the Spodek Hall as the hosts stormed to a 3-1 victory over Germany ©Getty Images



After the extended break coming into the third set, Poland continued where they left off in the opening two, building a 10-5 advantage on a seemingly flailing German contingent.

You do not get to a World Championship semi-final by giving up the ghost, however, and Germany proved this better than any as they battled back to level the score at 11-11 before powering to a 25-23 victory, much to the dissatisfaction of the increasingly buoyant home crowd.

The final set continued in the same vein as each of the others, with nothing to separate the two sides throughout.

Unlike the others, Poland managed to get a firm grip on the set as the points hit the 20s, pulling into a 21-18 lead with some highly efficient counter attacks.

Pumped up by the increasingly raucous supporters inside the arena, Poland held their nerve to take the third set 25-21 and seal a historic victory on home soil.

Brazil edged France 3-2 in a thrilling opening semi-final to book their ticket in the final of the Volleyball World Championship ©Getty Images



Their opponents in the final will be three-time defending champions Brazil as they overcame underdogs France in another thrilling semi-final.

This one went right to the wire with five sets needed to separate the two sides.

Despite stomping to a 25-18 opener, Brazil were pinned back in the second as Earvin Ngapeth led a brilliant comeback for the French to seal the set 25-23.

Millimetres would separate the teams in the next three sets as Brazil hit back to open up a 2-1 lead courtesy of a 25-23 victory, followed quickly by a 25-22 scoreline in favour of the French in the fourth.

The momentum shifted from point to point in the decider with neither team able to cement a sizeable lead on their opponent.

Cracks began to open in the French defence after the mid-set break, however, as Brazil gained a three point advantage at 11-8.

Try as they might, France could not bridge the gap, with the five sets finally looking as though it was taking a toll on the 2002 bronze medallists.

Brazil added the final nail in the coffin as they sealed the decider 15-12 to march into their fifth World Championship final, to be played in Katowice tomorrow.

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