Brazil is playing for its life in Pool E of the WCH. A win yesterday by the Serbian team against Japan would have made things that much easier for the Brazilian squad. However, Serbia had already clinched its Final 6 spot in advance, and despite having started its game against Japan with its usual stars, after it won the game’s first set, coach Zoran Terzic started to sub in his bench little by little into the game. Japan made use of Serbia’s weaker 2nd unit and came back from behind to close the game 3-1. The loss was Serbia’s first in the competition and also the first time it lost sets in 8 games.
Now, only a 3-0 Brazilian win against Japan can clinch the team a berth to the competition’s Final 6, with any other result eliminating the team. When confronted by the media if his decision to take out his team’s starters from the game was a way of harming the Brazilian team, coach Terzic was emphatic:
“Boskovic has had abdominal pain since yesterday, so the physical trainer advised to spare her. But it’s nothing serious. And I did not understand your stupid question. I do not look at the position of the other teams in the standings. I do not care about it. I just concentrate on Serbia’s position ia and the team do their best to win the matches.”
Fans will remember that Serbia’s male team was likewise accused of throwing a match against Poland in the recently ended Men’s WCH in order to harm France’s chance at advancing in the competition.
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