There was no dilemma. With quality defense and patient offense, Serbia defeated France 14:10 (4:2, 5:2, 3:2, 2:4) and is in a good mood waiting for Sunday and the derby with Hungary at 8:30 p.m. Dušan Mandić will be in the team then.
It was known that the defense would be the main asset and in the first three quarters it worked very well. By then everything was already decided.
A tough start, aggressive play by the French announced a tough job for Serbia. The French were leading 2:1 but Ćuk calmed the game with two goals. Serbia made a 6:0 run, Drašović, Strahinja Rašović and Vico took Serbia to 7:2 in two minutes. Then the well-guarded Vernu came to the fore. With two goals, the French threatened, but Nikola Jakšić and Lukić restored the five-goal lead with masterful goals.
The cheerful Drašović kept the rhythm going in the third half. He scored two goals, and with Dedović’s goal everything was decided. The French did not give up in the last half. They quickly reduced the lead to 12:8, but Nikola Jakšić broke the streak. Kobeščak’s men managed to win an honorable defeat while the Serbs were already focused on Hungary.
A good job was done, the points were not in question, but an impression was also sought. Serbia played as it should and it is clear that it can do even better. The nicely filled Arena was a breeze, there is no doubt that more tickets will be requested next week. The victory against Hungary brings Serbia closer to the semi-finals.
Coach Uroš Stevanović was more focused on the next match:
– Hungary is not to be or not to be, it is the first ticket to the semi-finals. We know what kind of team they are. The rules of the game have changed because of them. They have adapted best. In Singapore they had only two defeats against Spain, here they are without a mistake. They have their well-known swim and shoot style which is now expressed on a shortened pitch. They have up to 12 more attacks. Dominant national team, defense is the key. To prevent counterattacks especially in the first two quarters, to slow down their rhythm. They will want to run us over. We have to prevent that as well as easy goals and a less excellent player.
This is how Nemanja Vico saw the match with France:
– It was a good start and everything went according to plan. We turn to the Hungarians and if we win, I think we have finished the job. Now this match is the most important for us, like the quarterfinals in the previous system. We were thinking about them before this match. It was important to score three points here. There were no drops, we didn’t want to go in relaxed. We brought it in without any problems. We have a day off. The Hungarians are shooters, but defense is our trump card. The model is the game against the Spaniards, we must not let them get into the series. We will be ready.
France – Serbia 10:14 (2:4, 2:5, 2:3, 4:2)
Arena Pool. Referees: Ome (Germany), Balanescu (Romania). Player more: France 7 (3) Serbia 7 (4). Peterci: France 2 (1), Serbia 1 (0)
France: Offner, Bryce – Fernandez, Barna, Boue 2, Drae, T. Vernoux 4, Vitrant 1, Guerin, Marion Vernoux 3, Canovas, Carpentras, Fontany, Mass, Sutton.
Serbia: Filipović, S.Rašović 2, Randjelović, Ćuk 2, Lazić, Drašović 3, N.Jakšić 2, Vico 1, Dedović 2, P.Jakšić, V.Rašović 1, Glušac, Martinović, Lukić 1.
