Serbia Defeats Brazil, Faces Croatia in World Championship Semifinal
Vojislav Čupić's young squad beat Brazil 11:7 and secured a clash with Croatia for a spot in the World Championship final.
Vojislav Čupić's young squad beat Brazil 11:7 and secured a clash with Croatia for a spot in the World Championship final.
Serbia's young water polo team advanced to the semifinals of the World Championship after defeating Brazil 11:7 in the quarterfinals. The match was played on Saturday, August 8, 2026, and the next challenge for head coach Vojislav Čupić's side will be a duel against Croatia at the Zagreb pool.
Serbia opened the match strongly and held a two-goal lead after the first period (3:1). Although the second quarter ended level (2:2), the teams went into halftime with Serbia leading 5:3. The advantage was extended in the third quarter, which Serbia won 2:1, taking a 7:4 lead into the final eight minutes. Brazil tried to threaten in the closing stages, but Serbia responded with four goals and calmly saw out the match.
The most efficient players for the winning side were Maksim Krečković and Uroš Munćan, each scoring three goals. Dušan Samardžić, Marko Abadžić, Nemanja Grgić, Marko Bursać, and Blagoje Lale each added one goal. Goalkeeper Nemanja Paležević also made a significant contribution, recording nine saves during the match.
With this victory, Serbia secured a spot among the top four teams in the world and continues its fight for a medal. In the semifinals, they will face Croatia, with the match scheduled for Saturday at 7 PM in Zagreb. For Croatian water polo fans, this will be an opportunity to watch the two teams battle live for a place in the World Championship final.