From the special reporter "Vijesti"
Three defeats by Montenegrin water polo players at the Olympic tournament in Paris - each was different in its own way, and yet each of them had so many similarities that anyone who thinks that the results in the matches with Croatia, Greece and Italy are just bad luck is mistaken.
"Barracudas" made a difference in just a few minutes at the premiere on a routine basis, and against Helena and "setebel", Montenegro was one step away from a feat - it could have scored six points and celebrated its place in the quarterfinals, but it managed to win only two because they cost her fives. And because she wasn't right in the crucial moments...
This team Vladimir Gojković he has crazy energy, he showed that he can use it to make up for the shortcomings compared to the favorites, but in equal matches - and every one of them has been so far in Paris - Montenegro lacks the calmness in front of the rival's goal to strike the final blow.
That's how it was against Greece, the same thing happened in the duel with Italy, even though our selection was the one that was chasing the opponent's advantage practically all the time.
"It was a different game than against Greece, with a lot of pressure on both sides and I believed we could solve it in the regular part. We had opportunities to do that, and penalties are always a lottery," said Gojković.
Montenegro took the lead Vasilija Radović, the Italians reversed, and after the first quarter it was 2:2. The fact that the score was tied after each quarter - 2:2, then 4:4, then 7:7, until the final 8:8 - shows how even the duel was in "Akvatik Centrum".
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No team had an advantage greater than one difference, it was not realistically close to breaking away, but again the impression is that the Montenegrin selection is the one that missed an ideal chance.
Thus, in the first minute and a half of the last quarter, she easily gambled away three attacks with a player more at the score of 7:7, in the last hundred seconds she blew two more, so it turned out that the goal was Dusan Matković (at 2.34 to the end) secured fives.
He excelled in them Dejan Lazović with two defenses (Francis of Fulviju i Edoardu di Somi), but it was not enough, because on the other side they were imprecise Marko Mršić, Bogdan Đurđić i Vlado Popadić (he only guessed Stefan Vidovic in the first series).
There are three derbies behind Montenegro, they ended the way they ended, but it was clear both before and after them that everything stops in the next game - against the United States of America (Saturday at 16.35:XNUMX p.m.), which is probably the most important in the tournament because it can open or close the door to the quarterfinals.
"Nothing changes, we definitely have to win the Americans to reach the quarterfinals. But you don't have to do anything because all the top teams are here. USA is a great team, we prepared with them and we know what to expect. The goal is to reach the top eight, we tried that in the previous three games, we will try in the next two as well. There will be a duel in which there is no reparation, and we are aware of that," said Gojković.
MONTENEGRO - ITALY 9:11 - AFTER PETERAC (2:2, 2:2, 3:3, 1:1)
Paris - "Aquatics Center". Spectators: 4.600. Judges: Margeta (Slovenia), Cvart (Netherlands). Player more: Montenegro 14 (6), Italy 12 (3). Peterci: Italy 2 (1).
Montenegro: Lazović (seven saves and five goals), Mršić, Perković, Vujović 1, Mačić, Popadić 3, Vidović, Đurđić, Đ. Radović 1, Spaić, Matković 2, V. Radović 1, Tešanović.
Italy: Del Lungo (two saves), Di Fulvio 2, Veloto, Giannaca 1, Fondelli 1, Condemi, Rencuto Jodiće, Ecenike 2, Prešuti 1, Bruni, Di Soma, Joki Grata 1, Nicosia (four saves).
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