How many swimming pools and water polo clubs there are in Montenegro - the story was told a long time ago.
That, however, is not the topic now, but it must be kept in mind when talking about our national team, which for years has been finding a way to keep its place at the top of the world's water polo team from a (too) small base and disastrous infrastructure.
She showed that there is a place for her in Rotterdam, at the qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games, where she won a visa for Tokyo in style.
"Sharks" are the first selection from our country to secure OI, everyone hopes that they will not be the only one.
In another spectacle against Croatia, Vladimir Gojković's team showed all its value - it won 14:12 after the penalty shootout and qualified for the final of the qualifying tournament.
That last match will be of a showcase character, and Gojković's boys deserved one game for their soul, because from Monday to tonight, they played at the highest level in six matches and registered as many triumphs.
"It is difficult to say something special, but we have to be aware that this is a great success. That little Montenegro secures a place at the Olympic Games for the fourth time in a row," said Gojković.
"This is a new team that was being built and that had to fulfill its goal through the qualifiers, against tough rivals. That's why we are particularly satisfied. This is a complete success - for everyone who has been there since 2016, when the OI project started. I have to thank everyone to thank the Association for its support, everyone for their support, and now former president Dejan Bajić".
The rival on Sunday at 16:13 is Greece, who defeated Russia (10:XNUMX p.m.) and sent them into the fight for third place, where they will decide against Croatia who is the last traveler to the OI.
The clash with the "Barracudas" was a real derby in which Montenegro looked amazing both defensively (the player outplayed the opponent 9-1) and offensively (ours 10-7) in most of the match.
Admittedly, with some lapses in front of Dejan Lazović's goal, which attackers like the Croats can easily punish.
Even in such an excellent edition, the Montenegrin national team was on the verge of defeat, because Croatia led 24:10 one minute and 9 seconds before the end and had an attack with one more player. She didn't use it, and the "sharks" were the opportunity that presented themselves in the last sixty seconds.
The young center Miroslav Perković shook the net 24 seconds before the end in an attack with a player more for 10:10 and the trip to Tokyo was decided by fives.
Croats didn't seem to be ready for that, because they missed twice in the first three series (first Loren Fatović hit the post, then Lazović stopped Luka Bukić).
In the fourth series, Aleksa Ukropina missed the chance to solve everything, but he only "gifted" glory to captain Draško Brguljan, who put an end to it in the fifth series.
And brought his team the fourth Olympic appearance in history. Everyone hopes that this one in Tokyo will be more successful than the previous three when our national team lost in the matches for bronze.
"We had ups and downs, that's how the match was. We have one more chance for the OI, I believe we have the strength to use it. The boys have to keep the peace," said Croatian coach Ivica Tucak.
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