30-Nov, start time: 18:00, end time: 19:21 - Attendance: 12,000

JPN	0	17	20	16	-	-	53
BRA	3	25	25	25	-	-	75

Match Description:

Brazil finishes World Cup in style
World champions Brazil already had the World Cup title in the bag but still turned on a magical display of Volleyball to beat Japan in straight sets in front of a packed Yoyogi Stadium to finish the tournament unbeaten and the year in great style.

Bernardo Rezende's men had already been confirmed as World Cup champions when their closest rivals Italy lost to Serbia and Montenegro earlier in the day but this didn't stop them producing a brilliant display in tough conditions.

In a great contest, not only between the players but the 12,000 fans which favoured a 3:1 ratio to Japan, Brazil quickly opened a 6-1 lead with superior defence and creativity on attack. Takahiro Yamamoto's efficient spiking saw Japan claw back to 13-9 but MIP Anderson and the ultra-consistent Nalbert in sublime form Brazil jumped back out to 16-10 ahead. It only took 22 minutes before Rodrigo blocked for his sixth point to finish the set. By then Yamamoto's six points left him needing only three more to claim the tournament's Best Scorer and M.V.P. award.

Japan came out much better in the second set to lead at 6-5 after Nobuhiro Ito pulled off a great block and it didn't take long for Yamamoto to claim his three points but Nalbert and arguably one of the best setters in the game Ricardo pulled it around with some outrageous touches of genius to put Brazil in charge again at 13-10. Japan never saw the lead again and eventually it was Nalbert who smashed down centre court to put Brazil 2-0 up.

Brazil's dominance continued in the third set with Anderson scoring his 11th point to give Brazil an 8-6 lead and when Dante towered over Yamamoto for his first block of the match Brazil were 16-10 up and cruising. It was left for Rodrigo to spike and cap another brilliant Brazilian performance, setting off the celebrations and giving Brazil the 2003 World Cup in addition to their South American Continental crown and the 2003 World League title in what has been a sensational year for the Boys from Brazil.

Comments:

REZENDE, Bernardo (BRA Head Coach)
" This is a great honor as the Brazilian coach to win the first ever World Cup tournament. The tournament was long and tough, but our players did an excellent job. The World Cup is maybe less important behind the Olympic Games and the World Championship, but it was very very valuable and it is a privilege to be the first Brazilian coach to win the World Cup."

TANAKA, Mikiyasu (JPN Head Coach)
" Today we could not play how we wanted to do. This was the first time I felt the Brazil team to be so strong. But our players tried hard to win. I found the big difference between us and the world champion. We could not fulfill our expectations."

YAMAMOTO, Takahiro (JPN Player)
" I tried to do my best so that I won't regret. But Brazil attacked all our weak points. However through this world cup, I gained confidence and also I found many challenges."

Official Result:

Match statistics (P-2) - PDF