From the special reporter "Vijesti"
The match in which the mistake was perhaps not forbidden, but very dangerous, the Montenegrin water polo players started with 0:3, and ended it with plus five - the victory over Australia (15:10) at the start opened the door to the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games for the "sharks".
In a group in which Kazakhstan is an absolute outsider, the triumph over a selection that works hard, and often surprises the favorites, brought calm before the continuation of the competition.
The beginning, however, put a warning sign - because Spain, the next rival, as well as Serbia and Croatia, would not just drop such a gift.
- It would not be good to enter the match against the Spaniards like that, I hope that from the beginning we will be at the level we want to be at - the coach Vladimir Gojković is clear.
- Too much respect and too much importance - emphasized Aleksandar Ivović, describing the introduction of the match with Australia.
- The stakes were high, and in the subconscious was that defeat against them at the last World Cup. I also remember the unsolved outcome back in 2015. Although I am going back a long way, there is a reason - they have changed one or two players since then, we almost the whole team. This is a very important victory for points, but also mentally. I think this game strengthened the younger players. No matter how hard you try to experience the Olympics as just one tournament, it's still different. I believe that after Australia, we took the burden off the start of the biggest competition, that we can enter the continuation more calmly and fight for the best possible position in the group - said one of the best players in the world.
Ivović was the target of the Australian defense, it will be like that in every game...
- When they imprisoned Ivović, we could not prepare a dog for him when he was free. We have to open up space for him, and we know how we should play - points out Gojković.
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It rarely happens that the legendary Leka scores only one in a match with 15 goals, and that from the box, but debutants Aleksa Ukropin, who scored four times (without a miss) and Dušan Matković, a three-time scorer, played an important attacking role.
- Honestly, I didn't think much about how I was going to play, but only how to fulfill everything we agreed on. In the end, everything turned out as it should, and I'm glad that I made a goal-scoring contribution in a nice victory - said Matković.
- They were all excellent - Ukropina, Matković, Banićević, Perković... They are young, but they have imposed themselves, they are followed and sought after by big clubs, which shows that they have a high rating in the water polo world - praises the young guys Ivović.
They will have to confirm that rating on Tuesday from 11.30:4.30 a.m. Japanese time (13:12 a.m. our time) against super-strong Spain, who showed their strength by winning over Serbia XNUMX:XNUMX.
A win over Australia opened the door to the quarter-finals, a win over the Spaniards would open it completely.
- It is a selection that has been on the rise for the last two years, something similar to us. They are designed similarly, with several more experienced players and younger guys, who are full of enthusiasm, energy, and the desire to prove themselves. It will be a good fight - emphasizes Ivović.
Spain is not as physically strong as Australia, but it is tactically exceptional, it plays with many changes in rhythm, it is strong in all positions...
- Complete team, with excellent shooters, centers, goalkeeper... They play with many players in the rotation, they all know their job, but we absolutely believe that we can play with them - concluded Gojković.
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