Ireland-Serbia

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Match report ✍️

Serbia claim 13th place with 11-8 win over Ireland at IKF European Korfball Championship 2026

Zlín, 23 October 2026 – Serbia secured 13th place at the IKF European Korfball Championship 2026 by defeating Ireland 11-8 in the placement match for 13th position at the DATART Arena in Zlín.

In a tightly contested, low-scoring encounter, Serbia held their nerve to claim the higher ranking. Ireland’s Charlotte Bristow and Daisy Tighe each finished with three goals, while Serbia’s Petar Jovanovic also scored three. Further contributions came from Mina Vukic, Nemanja Stojevic and captain Nikola Perkovic (two each) for the Serbian side. The match remained competitive until the closing stages, with Serbia adding late goals, including a free pass from Perkovic, to seal the 11-8 victory.

The result leaves Serbia in 13th place and Ireland in 14th in the final ranking of the championship. With the top ten teams at the European Championship earning automatic qualification for the IKF World Korfball Championship 2027 in the Netherlands, neither side will advance to next year’s global event. Both teams nevertheless gained valuable international experience across the group stages and placement matches in Prostějov, Otrokovice and Zlín.

Tournament recap: Serbia

Serbia began the championship in Group C alongside Germany, Türkiye and Slovakia, finishing at the bottom of the pool. They then competed in the lower placement section, recording a narrow golden-goal win over Scotland and other competitive results that earned them a place in the 13th-place match. Coached by Kees Vlietstra and captained by Nikola Perkovic, the Serbian side showed resilience throughout and will take positives from their performances against a variety of European opposition as they continue to develop the sport at home.

Tournament recap: Ireland

Ireland finished bottom of Group D after facing hosts Czechia, England and Wales. In the second group phase and subsequent placement matches they remained competitive, securing a win over Switzerland before falling to Serbia. Under coach John Tighe and captain Alf Timney, the Irish team demonstrated determination and gained important experience that will support their preparations for future European and World Championship campaigns.

The top ten teams at the IKF European Korfball Championship 2026 qualify automatically for the IKF World Korfball Championship 2027. With the Netherlands already assured of their place as hosts, the remaining European berths have been confirmed through the results of the championship.