The women’s volleyball team finished second in the world championship. This Saturday (15), in Apeldoorn (Holland), the Brazilians were overcome by Serbia by 3 sets to 0, with partials of 26/24, 25/22 and 25/17. The Europeans, who had lifted the cup in the last edition, in 2018, took the double undefeated, with 12 wins in 12 games, nine of them without losing sets.
Considered the main player in the world today, the opposite Tijana Boskovic was the protagonist of the final, with 24 points. Gabi striker and center Carol with nine points each, were the highlights of the Brazilian team, which had been runner-up in the League of Nations in July. The South Americans are experiencing a renewal, with only half of the silver medalist team remaining at the Tokyo Olympics (Japan).
Almost
It was the fourth time that the green and yellow team reached the decision, once again embittering the silver medal. In 1994, at home, Brazil lost to Cuba. In the finals of 2006 and 2010, both in Japan, the executioner was Russia. Despite being two-time Olympic champions, at the Games in Beijing (China) and London (United Kingdom), in 2008 and 2012, respectively, the Brazilian women are still chasing the unprecedented world title.
The team led by José Roberto Guimarães (coach in the 2006 and 2010 vices and in the Olympic golds) ended the competition, held in Holland and Poland, with ten victories and two defeats. Before the decision, Brazil had only lost in the fourth round of the first phase, to Japan. Classified for the knockout with the third best campaign in general, the Brazilians gave the Japanese payback in the quarterfinals, winning, by turn, by 3 sets to 2. In the semifinal, they defeated Italy, the opposite Paola Enogu, by 3 to 1.
Weapon in the victory over Italy, in the semifinal, the block was the main Brazilian opponent in the first set. The Serbs were five times better on the ground and did not give up points. Led by Boskovic, who scored six points in the partial, the European team was better in attack – even making more mistakes (11 to 5). An out-of-ball from Gabi gave Serbia a 27-25 victory.
The scenario hardly changed in the second set. Brazil, finally, scored in the block, but remained less aggressive compared to rivals, who continued to miss more attacks and looting, but benefiting from the offensive insistence. The green and yellow team had a four-point advantage at the beginning and three in the middle of the partial, but gave the comeback to the Europeans, who won by 25-22, again with a great performance by Boskovic, responsible for nine points for the Serbs.
With wide dominance of the actions, Serbia did not give Brazil chances in the third set. Zé Roberto’s team couldn’t vary the moves, while the Europeans, more physically and mentally, knew how to distribute the attacks better, confusing the Brazilian marking and keeping the advantage always comfortable. It was up to Boskovic, the highlight of the match, to declare the triumph by 25 to 17 and guarantee the title to the Serbs.
