Belgium vs Serbia

This was Belgium's first VNL campaign since being promoted, and they entered the tournament full of ambition after a strong build-up. The Red Dragons had opened their campaign with a spirited 3-1 win over Bulgaria on 10 June, signalling they could compete at this level. Serbia, perennially one of Europe's top volleyball nations, also began with a 3-1 victory — over Argentina — and carried immense pedigree into the fixture.

History was firmly on Serbia's side. The two sides had met seven times previously, with Serbia winning six of those encounters. Their most recent meeting came at the 2023 European Championships, where Serbia won 3-1. Belgium's sole victory in the series dates back to the 2017 World League.

Serbia came flying out of the blocks. Their serving pressure immediately troubled the Belgian reception, forcing the Red Dragons into predictable attacking patterns that the Serbian block read comfortably. Middle blocker Marko Podraščanin was particularly effective at the net, while outside hitter Uroš Kovačević punished any loose passes with clinical finishes.

Belgium struggled to establish any rhythm offensively. Their captain and primary offensive weapon, opposite hitter Sam Deroo, was well-contained by Serbia's defensive system. Serbia cruised to a 25-18 opening set victory, committing minimal errors and hitting at an impressive efficiency.

The second set was a different story. Belgium adjusted their serve-receive formation and began finding their middle attackers more effectively. Pieter Coolman and Matthias Valkiers combined for crucial blocks that disrupted Serbia's flow.

The set was tightly contested throughout. Belgium opened a narrow lead at the technical timeout and held their nerve when Serbia pushed back. With the score locked at 24-24, Belgium won two consecutive points — the first a thunderous spike from Deroo down the line, the second a Serbian attack that sailed just wide. Belgium took the set 26-24, levelling the match at 1-1 and igniting their bench.

Serbia responded with composure befitting a team that has consistently featured at the business end of major tournaments. Head coach Igor Kolaković adjusted the defensive scheme, instructing his blockers to read Belgium's combination plays more aggressively.

Kovačević and Dražen Luburić carried the scoring load, while setter Nikola Jovović distributed the ball intelligently to keep Belgium's blockers guessing. At 21-21, Serbia won four of the next five points to seal the set 25-21, restoring their lead in the match.

Belgium refused to go quietly. They led for much of the fourth set, with Deroo and opposite Ferre Reggers finding gaps in the Serbian defence. But Serbia's experience told when it mattered most. Trailing 20-18, Serbia reeled off a 4-1 run to take a 22-21 lead.

A crucial service run from Luburić put Belgium on the back foot, and Serbia reached match point at 24-22. On the deciding point, Kovačević rose high on the left wing and hammered an unstoppable cross-court winner to seal the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.

• Uroš Kovačević (Serbia) — The veteran outside hitter was the standout performer, delivering under pressure in every crucial moment. His all-around game — serving, passing, and attacking — set the standard.
• Dražen Luburić (Serbia) — The opposite made a decisive impact from the service line and scored heavily when called upon.
• Sam Deroo (Belgium) — The Belgian captain led his side's fightback in the second set and finished as his team's top scorer.
• Ferre Reggers (Belgium) — The young opposite showed promise with powerful hitting from the right side.

The run of play shifted decisively in the third set. After Belgium had worked so hard to level the match, Serbia's ability to immediately reassert control — winning a tight set 25-21 — deflated any momentum the Red Dragons had built.

Serbia's blocking structure was the defining tactical element. They finished with a significant advantage in blocks, particularly in the first and third sets. Belgium struggled to generate consistent offence when their first-ball reception was pressured, a weakness Serbia exploited relentlessly.

Belgium showed improvement as the match progressed, particularly in serve-receive, but were unable to maintain that level across all four sets. Their inability to win the crucial points in the fourth set, despite leading for much of it, will be a source of frustration.

For Serbia, this victory makes it two wins from two in Week 1, establishing early momentum in Pool 2. They next face Brazil — the hosts and tournament favourites — in a match that could determine pool positioning.

Belgium split their opening two matches (1-1), which is a respectable start for a debut VNL side. However, they will need to address their inconsistency if they are to challenge for a finals spot. They face Iran next.

With two wins, Serbia sit near the top of the early VNL table in Pool 2, while Belgium's 1-1 record keeps them in the middle of the pack. The top eight teams after the preliminary phase advance to the VNL Finals, so every result counts in this 18-match marathon per team.