The semi-final stage of the World Championship in Thailand has concluded, setting the scene for an historic all-European gold medal encounter between Türkiye and Italy. Meanwhile, Japan and Brazil will contest the bronze medal match. This upcoming final marks only the second occasion in the World Championship`s history that two European nations will compete for the ultimate title, with the previous instance being in 2018 in Japan, when Serbia triumphed over Italy.
Credit: Volleyball World
Japan vs. Türkiye: Türkiye Claims First World Championship Medal
Match Score: Japan 1-3 Türkiye (25-16, 17-25, 18-25, 25-27)
Türkiye has made history by securing its inaugural medal at the World Championships, defeating Japan in a hard-fought four-set semi-final. After an initial setback in the first set, coach Daniele Santarelli’s team demonstrated strong composure, dominating the subsequent two sets. The fourth set proved to be a nail-biter, but Türkiye managed to close it out, avoiding a decisive fifth set and preserving energy for the final.
Melissa Vargas was pivotal to Türkiye’s victory, delivering an impressive 28 points (26 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace), affirming her status as the tournament`s top attacker. Captain Eda Erdem and Ebrar Karakurt also played crucial roles, each contributing 13 points.
Credit: Volleyball World
For Japan, Yukiko Wada was the leading scorer with 22 points (19 successful attacks, 2 aces, 1 block), closely followed by captain Mayu Ishikawa, who added 19 points (17 successful attacks, 2 aces).
A key differentiator in Türkiye`s win was their formidable blocking performance, significantly outscoring Japan 12-6 in this aspect.
Match Statistics (Japan vs. Türkiye):
- Attack: Japan 55 – 58 Türkiye
- Serve: Japan 5 – 4 Türkiye
- Opponent`s Mistakes: Japan 19 – 19 Türkiye
Italy vs. Brazil: European Powerhouse Triumphs in Thrilling Five-Setter
Match Score: Italy 3-2 Brazil (22-25, 25-22, 28-30, 25-22, 15-13)
The second semi-final was a truly intense affair, easily matching the drama of a final. It pitted two fierce rivals against each other, who had recently met in the VNL final. The match unfolded like a seesaw, with neither side able to gain a two-set advantage until the climactic fifth set. The third set was particularly grueling, with Brazil pushing to 30 points to secure it.
Ekaterina Antropova shone for Italy, leading her team with an impressive 28 points (20 attacks, 6 blocks, 2 aces). Miriam Sylla also provided substantial support with 21 points (19 attacks, 2 blocks), and Paola Egonu contributed 10 points (9 attacks, 1 ace).
Credit: Volleyball World
For Brazil, Gabi once again demonstrated her leadership, scoring a remarkable 29 points (27 attacks, 2 blocks). Rosamaria was also highly effective, adding 20 points (19 spikes, 1 serve).
Statistically, Brazil showed dominance in blocking with 22 blocks compared to Italy’s 15. However, the Azzurre had a slight advantage in serving (4-2) and committed fewer errors. Both teams recorded an identical 69 points in attack.
Credit: Volleyball World
World Championship Final Day Schedule:
- 1st Place Match: Türkiye vs. Italy – 7 September, 14:30 CEST
- 3rd Place Match: Japan vs. Brazil – 7 September, 10:30 CEST
Finley Blackwood