The captain will once again wear the Montenegrin cap with number two - after two and a half years and the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Draško Brguljan is back among the "sharks".
The guy who, until the Games in Japan, skipped only one big competition in which the water polo team of Montenegro took part (EP 2010 in Zagreb) symbolically returns to help some of our new water polo guys to reach the capital of Croatia.
The "Sharks" are preparing in Utrecht for the European Championship, which will be organized by Dubrovnik and Zagreb from January 4, and Brguljan does not hide that he is happy to be here again.
"It's nice to be a part of this collective and environment, which has always been inspiring and which has always motivated me. I'm very happy to be in the national team again," Brguljan told the website of the Water Polo and Swimming Association of Montenegro.
The water polo player from Primorje turns 39 at the end of December, and his experience will mean a lot to the younger players in the national team.
"I feel good, even though we are only at the beginning of preparations for what awaits us. Motivation? I have always said that motivation for the national team is never lacking - it will be a great honor for me if I can play even a minute to help the team," said Brguljan .
He also explained how the return came about.
"Selector Vladimir Gojković called me in April or May and asked about my plans for the future. He expressed his desire to return to the national team at some point, because he thinks I can help. I am very glad that he and the people from the coaching staff have such opinion".
Draško is back before a "hell" water polo year, where, if everything goes as it should, Montenegro, in addition to the European Championship, can expect the World Championship in Qatar and as the crown of the Olympic Games.
Was it Paris that was an additional motive for Brguljan, who has four appearances at the Olympic Games.
"Honestly, it's not - my goal is to play the European Championship as well as possible, to qualify for the World Championship, and then for the Olympic Games. There's a long way to go before Paris, and I'm not here to collect some personal records, but to help the team. First of all , I hope for a good result in the first competition that awaits us," concluded Brguljan.
As expected, coach Gojković was pleased with Draško's return.
"His quality is indisputable, he has routine and experience, he is as motivated as he always was, he leads the way in training. I am sure that he can help us a lot. Goalkeeper Dejan Lazović is also back, after a year's break. These are two players who carried the national team from Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo," said Gojković.
Montenegro will play the group stage of the European Championship in Dubrovnik, and its rivals will be France (January 4), Spain (6) and Croatia (8). The final of the championship will be held "on the Sava" in Zagreb.
"The pressure is always great, but we are aware of what we want. We are preparing for the European Championship, which opens up the following paths for us. We are just thinking about how to welcome that competition in the best shape. The pressure must be there, and I believe that it will be the driving force for us to be at the right level," concluded Gojković.
Until Dubrovnik, sparring with the Netherlands and Georgia and a tournament in Sardinia
Water polo players from Montenegro have been training in Utrecht since Sunday together with the Dutch national team, against whom they will play a friendly match on Friday.
After that, from December 19 to 21, the "Sharks" are expecting the "Four Nations" tournament in Cagliari, where they will compete with Italy, France and Australia.
At the end of the preparations, Gojković's boys should also spar with Georgia.
Bonus video:
