For years, Montenegrin water polo players have not been part of the elite, they have shown it in many quarter-finals of major competitions - when it was most important, they played the worst.
It was the same at the Olympic Games in Paris... After good performances, but also defeats against Croatia, Greece and Italy, Vladimir Gojković's boys were expected to shine in the crucial match against the United States of America, but what happened has already been seen.
Without idea, firmness, courage...
The Americans, led by the experienced Dejan Udovicič, gave them a lesson in water polo, they celebrated with 12:7 and sent our selection home much earlier than anyone expected.
From the start of the game in "Akvatik Centrum" it was clear that the "Sharks" would have a hard time winning, especially when the rival went 7:2...
The only reaction came in the third quarter when Montenegro, mostly thanks to Bogdan Đurđić and Marko Mršić, reached 7:5 and 8:6, but again when they should have struck a real blow, our water polo players sank.
The United States of America expertly locked up the match and made our water polo national team not even reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games for the first time in history.
Debacle, disaster... It seems that stormy days are ahead for our water polo.
The end, the debacle... Montenegrin water polo players were defeated by the USA (12:7) in a crucial match and for the first time they will not play in the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games.
If that matters anymore - Montenegro did not use even the tenth attack with a player.
A new goal for the Americans, the shooter is Irving - the "sharks" are practically at the exit door of Paris (12:7).
GOL - Đurđić once again, but he and Mršić are a little short of victory in such an important match, someone else has to wake up (11:7). There are a little more than five minutes left.
And, Daude doesn't make a mistake from the penalty - the USA is slowly moving towards victory (11:6).
Halok is still unstoppable - five points for the USA.
The third quarter is over...
Gojković tried the last attack in the third quarter to play with the goalkeeper Petar Tešanović, but even that didn't bring anything except a new sloppy action by the "sharks".
Montenegro - USA 6:10.
Center Hallok continues to torment our defenders - after another exclusion of ours, Dod led USA to 10:6.
The Americans practically made no mistakes - Obert scored for 9:6.
GOOOOOL - Đurđić again. The Đurđić - Mršić tandem broke up, Montenegro is getting closer to the turnaround (6:8).
Once again, our selection does not use the attack with more players (6-0), Vasilije Radović hit the post.
The United States of America answered from the box - Daube again (5:8).
GOOOOOL - they finally make "sharks", once again Marko Mršić. Montenegro is completely in the game (7:5).
GOOOOL - Bogdan Đurđić, great goal. Are the "sharks" finally waking up (7:4)
GOAL, with the assistance of VAR technology - scored by Marko Mršić after the finally real action (7:3)
The second quarter ended, but nothing changed in the game of the Montenegrin water polo players... Everything that happened during the first 16 minutes is forgettable.
Montenegro - USA 7:2.
The disastrous game of our selection continues - Ben Halok scores a goal for 7:2.
It doesn't go any further... For the fourth time, the "sharks" had more players and for the fourth time they did not use the attack.
New goal for the Americans - the third scored by Daube, now from the box (6:2).
Bonus video:
