In the last, sixth weekend of the World League, Yugoslav men's volleyball national team first in Novi Sad and then in Belgrade beat world champion Italy and as first-placed "A" group team they secured participation in the final tournament in Rotterdam.
In the first match in Novi Sad "Spens" arena, in front of about 10 000 spectators, the result was 3:1 (25:23, 25:27, 25:18), and only a day later 8 000 spectators from Belgrade greeted in "Pionir" hall another triumph over the national team that has ruled the world volleyball courts. The result was again 3:1 for Yugoslavia (23:25, 25:18, 25:20, 25:12).
Leading actors of the brilliant match in Novi Sad were Nikola Grbic, Vujevic, Boskan, Mester, Mijic and Kovac.
Italians won the first set in the match in Belgrade, but after that Yugoslav players had complete domination. Excellent playing of Nikola Grbic, Batez, Kovac, Vujevic, Mester, Geric was fully expressed in the last, fourth set, when the Italians managed to win only 12 points.
To beat Italians three times in this year's World League and to win the first place in group "A" in a superior way is great success, which is not belittled by the fact that Italians came to Yugoslavia without several players. Just to mention that federal manager of Yugoslav national team, Zoran Gajic, had problems with injured players during the entire season of the World League, and in matches with Italy he could not count on Ivan Miljkovic and Vladimir Grbic.
In the final tournament of the World League from July 10-16 in Rotterdam, in the competition of Russia, USA, Canada, Italy, Brazil and Netherlands national teams, brilliant generation of Yugoslav volleyball players will attempt to enrich their treasury with another trophy. Judging by the matches against Italy, news from Netherlands may be expected with optimism.
Yugoslavia's results in World League 2000
May 26: ITALY - YUGOSLAVIA 1-3 (25-20, 19-25, 14-25, 21-25)
May 28: ITALY - YUGOSLAVIA 3-2 (20-25, 25-27, 25-23, 25-17, 15-9)
June 2: CANADA - YUGOSLAVIA 3-1 (25-18, 17-25, 25-23, 25-20)
June 3: CANADA - YUGOSLAVIA 0-3 (22-25, 21-25, 23-25)
June 10: ARGENTINA - YUGOSLAVIA 3-2 (31-33, 28-30, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12)
June 11: ARGENTINA - YUGOSLAVIA 1-3 (15-25, 25-13, 24-26, 23-25)
June 17: YUGOSLAVIA - CANADA 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19)
June 18: YUGOSLAVIA - CANADA 3-1 (26-24, 21-25, 38-36, 25-16)
June 23: YUGOSLAVIA - ARGENTINA 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-23)
June 24: YUGOSLAVIA - ARGENTINA 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-13, 25-21)
June 30: YUGOSLAVIA - ITALY 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 25-27, 25-18)
July 1: YUGOSLAVIA - ITALY 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-12)
Worl League - Group A - Final standings
| YUGOSLAVIA | 12 | 9 | 3 | 32-15 | 18 |
| ITALY | 12 | 8 | 4 | 28-23 | 16 |
| CANADA | 12 | 4 | 8 | 17-32 | 16 |
| ARGENTINA | 12 | 3 | 9 | 22-30 | 15 |
