Japan 🇯🇵 vs. Brazil 🇧🇷 - Bronze Match - Highlights | Women's World Championships 2025

It is winner takes all for a place on the podium, Japan. Nanami Seki serving. The reception by Julia Bergman and Gabi with the tip. And that is the opening point. She is so versatile, you saw it there already. Tips and attacks, and now Ed and Ace do it as well. At the top of the show, she has such a quick turnaround. Oh, and it's a service! The space, the defense gets easier. 8-21. Finally, Shimomura gets something through. When are Japan going to start playing? And when they do... Yeah, watch out. Wada picks out Gabi. Bergman! Incredible. Well, I think Japan are disciplined in their blocks. They may not be high, but they're often getting in a good position. Oh, wow! Miku Akimoto! Millimeter perfect. It's another good serve, but the pass, excellent. And the slide attack, even better. Julia Shimomura. Drops it in a bit shorter. Bergman. Kizzy. First swing, first point, first set is done. I'm so used to these close sets. That was not close in any facet of the game. Aili, Bergman, Gabi. Oh, wow! Beautiful court vision. 199 as well. Just another of these super tall young Brazilians. But it is still Gabi leading the way, leading the march. A world-class swing from her. Watch where she contacts this ball. This is not an outside attack. She is past the middle blocker. 19-15. Tsukasa. Oh, what a touch by Roberta. Gabi. Oh, what a dig! Well played, Julia and Helena. Sends it deep. Out wide, Ishikawa. Oh, again, the defense from Brazil. Free ball, though. An incredible, dominating performance. Roberta. Into Yoshino. What a... They're going to have to play this, Japan. Tsukasa. Ishikawa. It's Doug and Gabi. They've gone the other way. One set point saved. Unfortunately for Japan, there's seven more to go. I like the choice of going to Roberta. Set point, Ishikawa. Gabi. Oh, she's brilliant. Needs Brazil follow. It's 25-17. It is two sets to zero. Brazil now one set away from the podium. And Japan have a lot of questions to answer. 25-17 after a 25-12. Great service run here from Tsukasa. The NEC Red Rocket setter. Roberta. Rosa Maria. Oh, great touch. Fukudome. What a set. Yoshino. 4-0. Fukudome is two huge defenses in a row. She spent some time playing in Milano as well, in Italy. I bet she's had a couple... A perfect spot for her to swing. Slide attack. Oh, there's this Brazilian defense. They've gone again for the slide. That was good. Kizu. Japan can go again. Beautiful swing, but what a touch from Makris. And Gabi. The one-foot Yahoo. Can it go down from Japan? Yoshino. Wants a touch. Every single one wagging a finger saying, Nope, nope, nope. That was the tip. It's the next play. What a dig from Makris. But where's the hero moment? Yeah, it was Julia who was flying into the gap. Kizu pumping her fists like she's missed it. No. Straight through the gap. 17-21. Not over yet. Remember, any comeback from here for Brazil, and it would be the bronze medal secured. Kizu. What a point to win. Helena. Good pass. Makris. Kizu. That is some angle from Kizu. Five opportunities for Japan to stay in the game. Helena. Much better pass. Gabi. Yoshino with the dig. Here we go. Yoshino for the set. Hopes of a bronze medal are still alive. In their quest for the bronze medal. Another good touch. And the block. Doesn't finish the job, but gives Brazil the advantage and the chance for 4-0. And Gabi. Now it's 7-10. 16-14. All squeezed up. Net touch called. Yeah, there you go. It's Ishikawa. Into Shimomura. This for the set. A side-out will do it here. But it's over. Copped or is it? Brazil. 17 points all from the attack line. No aces yet. She's gone for that one. Bergman to send this to a tie-break. Blocked touch. And now Gabi. Medal point for Brazil. Bergman. Japan hanging by a thread. Yoshino. Julia. Out. Great block, great pick-up. Is this the moment? 28-27. Bergman. Makris. Gabi. Still in the air. Yoshino for the set. Oh, she's done it. Yoshino Sato. And Japan. Is it enough to have one player firing? We're about to find out. Oh, Yoshino. Goodness me. Two sets each. Nine points each. A decent first touch. Bergman. Ishikawa. A point here and it's bronze medal point for Japan. But the pass is perfect. Makris. Gabi. Oh, Ishikawa's missed it. Leave as medalists. Makris has to bump it. Gabi saves the day. The ball's on its way. Side-out required. Gabi. Pan saw what was happening. It was still unstoppable. She has gone to the well again. And Japan have got it all to do. Ishikawa. Yoshino. Off the hands. Alberta. Yoshino to save the day. 17-16. Bronze medal point. This is a tough swing. And Ishikawa. It gets touched. This for the bronze medal. Gabi. No. Kojima steps in. Ishikawa. It's an abolishing match. After a marathon. A picture perfect block.