There have been many successes in Montenegrin water polo since the restoration of independence, but not those that fans in our country could enjoy - now everything is ready for a spectacle.
Podgorica will host the World Cup Superfinal starting Friday, which will be super important for Montenegrin water polo players because it is also a qualifier for the next World Championship.
The rival at the start of the quarterfinals is one of the toughest, but also one of the most secure in terms of qualifying for the World Cup - Croatia, on Friday at 20.30:XNUMX PM.
If Dejan Savić's men celebrate, they will take a key step towards the world championship, a defeat would lead them into calculations and play-offs.
Croatia without imperatives - an advantage or a trap for "sharks"?
"I don't want to look past that - I'm sure that Ivica Tucak, the Croatian coach, wants to use the moment of little time to prepare the national team, because due to the tight schedule he couldn't have the team together. With the list that I saw, they showed seriousness and want to stay with the strongest squad," Savić emphasized at the press conference before the Superfinal.
On the other hand, his player and he have their own calculations.
"We don't want to underestimate the strength of the Croatian team. It's true that we're playing on home turf, and the game is important to us because a victory takes us to the World Championship. It will be a duel that Montenegrin and Croatian water polo deserve," the Montenegrin coach is clear.
New rules? We fixed things compared to Bucharest
Dejan Savić made his debut on the bench for Montenegro at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Bucharest, where the "Sharks" reached the semi-finals. That tournament was played under new rules, in a shorter pool, with less time for attack...
"It is interesting that the entire season, at the entire club level, is played according to the old rules, and in Bucharest we came out with the new ones for the first time, which will also be played in Podgorica. I think the adaptation went unnoticed, because since the Olympic Games in Atlanta, the rules have changed seven or eight times and previously the adaptations were at the player level," explained Savić.
What did the new rules bring?
"The new water polo can also contribute to seeing a serious level of speed in attack, which was evident in Bucharest, with a large number of goals. But, if you approach a detailed analysis, you can also reach a top level in defense. That level suits fast teams such as Spain, Italy, Japan..."
And Montenegro?
"Our team is here to adapt - we are on the way and we managed to improve some details compared to Bucharest, primarily the defense with one less player and the transition in attack."
Croatia's attacking quality will clash with our defensive quality.
The legendary player and coach turned to another number one rival - Croatia.
"We are certainly expecting exceptional matches, primarily the match against Croatia, which has recorded exceptional results at the world level in the last three years. We have a very important match ahead of us, not only because of the qualifying moment, but also what kind of approach it will take - these are matches that raise the level of awareness and create a team, and especially an individual moment in that team."
Croatia has a hell of an attack?
"Their attacking qualities will meet our defensive ones," Savić said clearly.
The Sharks have the quality and potential for great things.
When he took over the national team, Savić said that the Montenegrin water polo machine was not broken and that it was up to him to find a way to turn it on and run. He has not changed that opinion.
"I absolutely believe that the Montenegrin team has both the perspective and the quality to achieve high goals. In a short period of time, we had preparations for the tournament in Bucharest, I am sure that the candidates are satisfied with their work, because I am with what they have provided," Savić emphasized and said.
"A great spectacle awaits us in Podgorica."
The list of 15 players is known, there were injuries and illnesses
The original list of 25 players was shortened to 15 names by the Montenegrin coach, so the colors of our country will be defended at the tournament in Podgorica by Lazar Andrić, Dušan Banićević, Filip Gardašević, Strahinja Gojković, Aljoša Mačić, Dušan Matković, Nikola Moskov, Dimitrije Obradović, Miroslav Perković, Danilo Radović, Đuro Radović, Matija Sladović, Vladan Spaić, Petar Tešanović and Balša Vučković.
It has been known for a long time that Bogdan Đurđić, the trump card of the Hungarian Vašaš team, will skip this tournament, as will Vlado Popadić, a member of the French Strasbourg team, and Jovan Vujović, who was previously a regular part of the "Sharks", is not among the 15.
"There are 15 players - there are some changes compared to Bucharest, because I wanted to check on certain players who did not play in Romania, and there are also those who are injured and sick. Overall, I think the quality of the national team is at a high level," explained Savić.
For the first match, the Montenegro coach will not be able to count on the suspended Vasilije Radović.
Milić: Exam before candidacy for the 2028 European Parliament.
Nikola Milić, president of the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro, stressed that he believes Podgorica is ready when it comes to organization.
"Our capital has been a host in previous periods, and this is our test before our candidacy for the 2028 European Championship, which is also an Olympic year. I believe that we will rise to this challenge. I hope that everything will look at the highest possible level. I am sure that we will be good hosts, it is innate in our culture, we are like that by nature - as a nation," Milić emphasized.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
