There are only seven days left until the first match at the World Cup in Kazan and the duel with powerful Serbia. The Montenegrin water polo players have to correct some finesse in the game and to mentally prepare for the performance in one of the most important competitions.
The goal, unlike all previous major championships, is not a medal. Montenegro is not going to Tatarstan with the strongest team, which is why coach Ranko Perović cannot promise a medal. But he doesn't want to give up on that dream either...
"What we cannot guarantee at this moment is a medal, but we will do everything to get there. We should, however, be realistic and understand that this is a difficult year for us. We are left without three standard national team members, we have new players who are young boys, such as Aleksa Ukropina, who is 17 years old," Perović said at a press conference held at Lake Krupac in Nikšić.
No trio to OI
The "Sharks" will be weakened at the World Championship by not playing Nikola Janović, Antoni Petrović and Saša Mišić, but they will try to win a medal and directly qualify for the Olympic Games in Brazil in 2016.
The recent winning of the tournament in Niš, according to Perović, showed that they are still a quality team that can engage in a battle with any national team.
"We will give our maximum, we will burn in every game in order to get a good result, which is a medal".
The coach is satisfied with the preparations and thinks that the team is physically ready, while the remaining three days of preparation in Herceg Novi will be used to prepare mentally as well as possible.
"The boys have done very difficult and demanding preparations and I hope that we will present ourselves in the right light in Kazan," Perović said.
The number of seats in Brazil depends on Serbia
Montenegro will play in Kazan in a group with Serbia, Australia and Japan. If Serbia, which certified its visa for Rio by winning the World League, repeats its success at the World Championship, then the second- and third-placed teams would qualify for Rio.
"After that, there is also the European Championship in Belgrade, which gives another additional place and after that, and I hope it will not come to that, there will also be a qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games. I think we have a lot of opportunities and chances to qualify for Rio." , added the selector.
Although Brazil was the most pleasant surprise of the World League (winning bronze), Perović believes that it is not realistic to expect that team to get involved in the fight for a medal, but that's why it can upset anyone.
"It's about a national team that is together all year. Huge resources are invested, players are brought in from the sidelines and they try to make a worthy team for the Olympics in Rio. I don't think it's a realistic story that it will enter the fight for a medal, but it's certain that it will to be a much more serious team than so far and can certainly take points away from someone and complicate the way to a medal," concluded Perović.
And Uroš Čučković pointed out that Montenegro is a rejuvenated team that has done quality preparations and showed at the tournament in Niš that it can handle the strongest.
"We can go for victory in every game. Of course, that does not guarantee a triumph, it all depends on what the day will be like and everything else. All in all, I think we have a chance and with the right approach we can make a result," said Čučković.
Ukropina: There was trepidation, now it's gone
The youngest member of the Montenegrin national team is Aleksa Ukropina, who is not yet 17 years old.
"The whole summer was a hellish preparation and I think I'm physically ready. It's true that I lack a lot of strength compared to the other players, but I'll try to make up for it with my speed. I hope to play as I've played so far, even better and I hope for a medal", said Ukropina.
The left-handed pearl of the Adriatic admitted that there was trepidation when he made his debut for the A selection.
"There was trepidation, but it slowly disappears as time goes on. I hope it won't be at the World Cup," said Ukropina.
After the conference, the selector and the players attended the exhibition match of the children attending the swimming and water polo school in Nikšić and presented them with appropriate gifts.
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