Zoran Terzic, the coach of the Serbian women’s volleyball team, openly admitted what many have suspected – his players suffer from a “fear of victory.” After losing to France 3-2 in the Nations League, Terzic pointed out that after leading by 21 points in sets, that strange fear was again noticeable and it held the team back.
“As I told the players right after the match, we did not deserve to lose. But after 21 points in the sets, the fear of victory appeared and it killed us,” Terzic said. He explained that the serve reception and attack worked well for most of the match, but mistakes and a drop in play at crucial moments led to a loss of form and the final defeat.
Although Serbia lost almost all matches in the Nations League with a 3-2 record, Terzic remains optimistic. He believes that the return of some key players will bring new strength and the team will be much more lethal at the upcoming World Championship in Thailand, held from August 22 to September 7.
“We lost almost all matches, but there were some we could have played differently. With the return of key players, especially in attack, we will be much stronger,” Terzic concluded.
Is this just bad form or really a fear of victory? One thing is clear – Serbian volleyball must find a way to break this psychological block if it wants to shine again on the world stage. What do you think? Is Terzic right or is it time for drastic changes? Drop a comment, let’s see who’s for fear and who’s for courage!
