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Serb&Mont - Italy 3-1
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| Taste of victory: Serbia-Montenegro's Ivan Miljkovic (PHOTO: AP) |
Tokyo, JAPAN, November 30, 2003 (fivb.ch) - Despite already being confirmed as bronze medalists Serbia and Montenegro gained the consolation of beating Italy in their final match and in the process handed Brazil the 2003 World Cup title.
The victory brought the Olympic champions level on points with Italy, with nine victories from 11 games, to deny the European champions the chance of drawing level with World Cup leaders Brazil, who, with 10 successive victories, play Japan in their final game. Italy collect the silver medal on set ratio.
With the final three World Cup places practically in concrete, this game was all down to pride so both teams gave their younger players a run which made for a fascinating encounter. Serbia and Montenegro inparticular, showed some great talent with MIP Bojan Janic elusive on the serve and setter Ivan Ilic finding the regular artillery in Ivan Miljkovic and Andrea Geric comfortably. In a great set point, Goran Vujevic finally blocked to seal the first set after a superb rally.
| Andrija Geric best blocker of World Cup
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Top Scorer/MVP: Takahiro Yamamoto (Japan)
Top Spiker: Giovane (Brazil)
Top Blocker: Andrija Geric (Serbia and Montenegro)
Top Server: Andrea Sartoretti (Italy)
Top Setter: Nikola Grbic (Serbia and Montenegro)
Best Libero: Sergio (Brazil)
Special award to Japan's Daisuke Usami
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The old guard of Paolo Cozzi and Andrea Giani got Italy back into the game at 5-1 up in the second set and some great play from setter Valerio Vermiglio helped them keep their noses in front at 16-14. Luca Tencati spiked home to make it 24-21 before Francesco Biribanti smashed home the winner to tie the game up.
The powerful right hander was again instrumental in giving Italy the lead at 12-10 with a superb block before two successive serves gave Italy a 22-18 break. But towering Andrea Geric pulled off three superb plays - block and two tips to pull Serbia and Montenegro back to 23-21 before an unbelievable error, when libero Damiano Pippi let a ball drop into court, made the score 23-22. Geric blocked again to tie the game up before two over-aggressive spikes from Alberto Cisolla completed an amazing Serbia and Montenegro comeback.
Miljkovic came into his own in the fourth set, scoring a massive 24 points for the match to lead Serbia and Montenegro home and in the process overtake Takahiro Yamamoto as the leading World Cup scorer.
FINAL STANDINGS
W L
1. Brazil 11- 0
2. Italy 9- 2
3. Serb&Mont 9- 2
4. USA 8- 3
5. France 7- 4
6. Korea 5- 6
7. Canada 5- 6
8. Venezuela 4- 7
9. Japan 3- 8
10. China 2- 9
11. Tunisia 2- 9
12. Egypt 1-10
Brazil, Italy and Serbia-Montenegro qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
*****
DAY 10: Serb&Mont - France 1-3
Tokyo, JAPAN, November 29, 2003 (fivb.ch) - Serbia and Montenegro, needing only one set to guarantee a top three finish at the 2003 World Cup and qualification for Athens 2004, did it tough but finally claimed their Olympic ticket in a 3-1 loss to France in the Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.
With France needing straight set victories and for Serbia and Montenegro to stay set-less, the match looked as though France had kept alive their Olympic dream at 2-0, only for the Blue Team to finally kick into gear and claim the third set. Although a 3-0 win to France and a straight sets defeat to Serbia and Montenegro on Sunday will leave the teams equal in third place on points and set ratio, Serbia and Montenegro have a superior points ratio.
In a repeat of the European Championship semifinal, which France won 3-2, the Olympic champions looked lethargic early on as France showed greater desperation on defence and excellent finishing. Some fantastic footwork by libero Hubert Henno and superb defence by Stephane Antiga put France ahead 18-14 before two excellent Antiga spikes put France up 22-16. MIP Frantz Granvorka spiked home to complete an amazing first set.
France's superb form continued in the second set as they opened an 8-7 lead. Antiga was particularly accurate on the spike and pulled off three successive blocks to stretch the gap to 14-9. Vladimir Grbic did his utmost to inject some much-needed urgency with some athletic aerial assaults but France were too good despite more injury woes when Oliver Kieffer sprained his ankle after standing on Mathias Patin's foot. Granvorka's spectacular serve put France ahead 21-18 before Vladimir Grbic served out to finish the set.
France took control of the third set as well before Serbia and Montenegro finally found some spirit and Andrija Geric blocked for a 16-13 lead. Ivan Miljkovic's excellent dig maintained the gap at 20-17 before an Igor Vusurovic spike sealed the set and Serbia and Montenegro's Olympic spot.
France claimed the fourth set but the match was already effectively over.
*****
DAY 9: Serb&Mont - Brazil 1-3
Tokyo, JAPAN, November 28, 2003 (fivb.ch) - World champions Brazil have one hand on the 2003 Men's World Cup after beating Serbia and Montenegro in four sets in Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo on Friday.
The South Americans are now the only undefeated side left in the tournament with nine victories and are virtually guaranteed an Olympic ticket with only two games remaining.
In a repeat of this year's spectacular World League final, which Brazil won in five marathon sets 25-16, 21-25, 19-25, 25-23, 31-29, both sides were hard to separate before Serbia and Montenegro settled quicker with Vladimir Grbic open an 11-7 lead through some quality spikes. An Anderson block tied the game up again at 12-12 but the Olympic champions soon led again at 18-16 through the deft touches of Ivan Miljkovic. A wonderful pass by Nikola Grbic gave Serbia and Montenegro set point at 24-21 before Geric closed the set.
Brazil came out guns blazing in the second set with a block by Gustavo giving them an 8-4 lead but great diving commitment from Vladimir Grbic helped tie the game up again at 8-8 before the Europeans grabbed the lead at 15-14 when Gustavo touched the net. Sterling work from libero Sergio on defence and Gustavo on the block saw Brazil jump back in front at 22-21 and stay in front with an amazing run of five unanswered points to snatch the second set.
Brazil, the most animated they have been in recent games, by this stage were showing unbelievable fighting spirit and they were soon ahead again in the third 7-4. But as is so typical in a battle between two quality sides, the Blue Team fought back to level at 12-12. Nothing could separate the two heavyweights until Nalbert pulled off consecutive blocks on Miljkovic to put Brazil ahead 21-19, followed by two from Andre to give Brazil set point before the left armer sealed the set.
Nalbert's sensational form continued in the fourth set as he led his side to a superb victory, resigning Serbia and Montenegro to their first loss of the tournament.
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