Video: Dutch duo Brouwer and Meeuwsen crowned volleyball world champions

Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen were crowned FIVB Beach Volleyball world champions.

The unheralded Dutch duo beat Brazil’s Ricardo Santos and Alvaro Filho in the men’s final in Stare Jablonki, Poland.

Surprise finalists Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen became the first Dutch team ever to win a medal in the Volleyball World Championships.

The pair pulled off a remarkable victory to claim gold, defeating the experienced Brazilians Ricardo Santos and Alvaro Filho.

The Dutchmen had already gone further than they’d ever managed before in a senior tournament, and then capped their astonishing run with a 2-0 victory.

Showing no sign of nerves against their illustrious opponents, they had their first match point at 20-14 and while the Brazilians saved two, they were unable to stop the third.

Before coming to the World Championships, Brouwer and Meeuwsen’s best result had been a ninth place finish in an FIVB World Tour Grand Slam tournament.

Despite the loss Ricardo has now become the most decorated player in World Championships history with one gold medal, two silvers and a bronze.

In the bronze medal match Germans Jonathan Erdmann and Kay Matysik bounced back to claim the biggest prize of their careers, defeating world champions Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego.

In a hard-fought 2-0 victory, they did not allow their Brazilian opponents to settle.

And although the lead swung back and forth in the second set, the Germans eventually opened up a lead and won with a Matysik spike.

The defeat caps a disappointing end to Alison and Emanuel’s time as world champions.

Edited by Staff Editor