Ivović: The biggest advantage of Hungarians is outside shooting

From the special reporter "Vijesti"

Apart from Draško Brguljan, only four other players will play in the fifth official match with the Hungarians - captain Nikola Janović, Miloš Šćepanović, Predrag Jokić and Aleksandar Ivović.

"Now we are all much more relieved and that will be a facilitating circumstance for us in the semi-finals. In previous matches, we had that burden on our backs. The great pressure we felt was best seen in the opening minutes of the games, in which we did not play as we should. Either the player was no longer good, or we were losing, or we weren't aggressive enough.

I think it was all due to the psychological burden. I hope that we will play against Hungary from start to finish like the last two quarters against Greece, or like the whole match against Serbia", Ivović points out.

Defender Pro Reka is a teammate of Tamas Kašaš and Norbert Madaraš and knows what to expect in tonight's match.

"The biggest advantage of the Hungarians is shooting from outside, but I hope that we will find the strength to stop that and win the game. The fast game has always been a feature of the Hungarians. At the World Championship in Shanghai, they gave us the most goals from counterattacks, it is important that we stop them, because they would not be able to withstand the "bone to bone" game.

The most important thing is how we will defend with one less player, because it is known that they have one of the best realizations in world water polo in six-on-five situations. If we have that segment at 50 percent, we can hope for a positive result".

Do you think that the realization of the players has to improve more in order to have a chance in the semi-finals?

"We are struggling in that segment, but primarily because we enter the game loosely or are not aggressive enough, so that affects our attack. I watched some training sessions of the Hungarians and they will definitely "jump" on us. That's why it is most important to play until the very end, not to rush and there will probably be a chance for an easier goal from the post or the wing - revealed recipe Ivović.

Petrović: Concentration is necessary

Antonio Petrović in the pool will be in charge of the man with whom he won the title of European champion, Adam Štejnmec. If Toni played like he did in Rijeka, when he had to be MVP of the final four, Montenegro would surely be one step closer to the final.

"We know each other quite well, we know their game and it will certainly not be easy for us. We have to be fully concentrated during the entire game, so that there are no drops like against Greece and Spain. The motive cannot fail, let's go for the win", says the defender of Savona.

Have you let go of the psychological pressure now that you've reached the semi-finals?

"We don't hide that we had a "brake" in the last few competitions. There was some spasm, but now we are free from it. We knew that we were a better team than Greece, that was the deciding factor. Now there is no need to cramp, this is the semi-final, a game in which anything can happen. We are playing against strong Hungarians, but we also have quality and we want to triumph", emphasizes Petrović.