Serbia v France
Serbia (6) v France (3)
Few people in the crowd will claim the Serbs are the most entertaining side at this year's HWC. Their patient passing game grinds down the clock and frustrates opponents - but it can also be extremely effective. It needs an energetic side to break it down, and France failed to disrupt their European neighbours enough.
Amid the possession play though, there is plenty of skill in the Serbian team, not least from No.4 Goran Vasic who gave his side a lead they never relinquished with a penalty then a marvelous individual run and shot. The Balkan boys were confident at half-time - their shaven-headed No.69 danced an impromptu waltz during the break - but to France's credit they made an immediate impression on the restart as the headband wearing No.2 poked home at the near post.
Sadly for them though, Serbia never lost their cool and can always slip back into their metronomic passing routine. They eased into gear and quickly snuffed out the threat with three quick goals to underline their dominance and set-up an intriguing Cape Town trophy semi-final against Afghanistan.
Joel Dimmock