Brazil vs. Serbia
After losing to France on Day 1, the Olympic champions Brazil were pushed against the wall but reacted with a lot of confidence as they shut down Serbia in Pool A. Thus, the “Seleção” secured their berth in the semifinal, leaving the Balkan side to fight France for the other one from this pool.
The two sides entered the match at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in opposite moods as Brazil lost five of their previous seven Nations League matches and without injured Maurício Borges, while Serbia have scored five straight wins in the tournament prior to this clash.
Brazil’s superb blocking display, spearheaded by Lucas Saatkamp “Lucão” (made 8 of Brazil’s 14 kill blocks overall!), gave them a five-point lead at the first TTO in the opening set (8-3). Their lead was extended to eight points later on (19-11). Serbia have fallen and never got up.
The Balkan team woke up in the second set when Marko Ivović joined Aleksandar Atanasijević in offense (11-9) but Brazil’s head coach Renan Dal Zotto had an ace up his sleeve – Evandro Guerra. The backup opposite converted several key kills before Lucão fired an ace on Brazil’s fourth set point.
Serbia led the way in the third set by making a two-point lead (8-6) at the first TTO but succumbed to the pressure of having to clinch the set in order to avoid a clean sweep. At 12-13, they argued with a referee on a possible ball in after their serve and lost another point due to a wrong rotation. Soon afterward, Brazil were five points ahead.
Wallace de Souza top-scored for Brazil with 16 points. Aleksandar Atanasijević recorded 17 points for Serbia.
To see complete results, stats, and standings, visit our FIVB Volleyball Nations League 2018 / Male / Seniors page.
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