For a great team who is NOT going to the Olympics, this is Serbia’s BEST PRIZE!
Tourney MVP Marko Ivovic and Serbia has finally won the World League after winning 5 silver medals in previous editions. The Serbian squad coached by 2000 Olympic gold medalist Nikola Grbic defeated Brazil in straight sets .
“I want to congratulate my guys. All of them – my players, my staff, because they have supported me for three months, even I was sometime unsupportable. But that’s just me. I asked them to come here to the final and play like we played. I knew that we need to suffer a lot if we want to achieve it. I mean that every day we needed to practice very hard, much harder than we practiced the year before or ever. So that’s why I am saying it was hard to be with me every day. We reached the point when we practiced in the gym with 38 degrees. We managed to finish the practice after 2,5 hour and I said: you will remember this moment when we arrive there. I’m proud of the team, because they trusted me, had faith in me and followed me. I just want to say thanks.” -Coach Grbic.
“What can I say? It’s difficult to beat Brazil in any competition, so the three-zero is a special result. We played the final also last year. I remember that we were relaxed, we were laughing and we lost 3-0. This year I saw we learned something from that match and this time we entered the court with serious faces and fought for every point. I saw from the second set, that we were ready to win the gold medal for the first time. I want to congratulate my teammates, they pulled every last bit of strength they had left after the tough game against Italy.” -Team Captain Dragan Stankovic.
Take note, star player Aleksandar Atanasijevic is not on the team due to an injury but his hardwoking comrades played with their hearts out against one of the world’s best teams.
As for Brazil, the last time they won the World League was in 2010. In the last 6 editions of the World League, they won 4 silvers (2011, 2013, 2014 and 2016).
France won the bronze medal after defeating Italy (3-0).
Full Match:
We wonder how they’re going to split the US$1,000,000.00.
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