Montenegrin water polo players will end their appearance at the World Championship with a duel with an old rival, a team they know very well and have competed against in major competitions in recent years.
The last opponent at the World Cup in Singapore is Croatia - it will be a fight for fifth place (14 hours) and a chance for our team to conclude the tournament in the right way, because if they defeat the "barracudas", it could be a serious tailwind for what is to come. And the first next competition is already in January 2026, when the European Championship is organized in Belgrade.
The "Sharks" have achieved two valuable victories in Asia so far, against Greece in the group and Italy in the first duel for fifth place, and one of their two defeats was against the Croatians.
It was in the 2nd round of Group D when they Petar Tesanovic and his teammates gave up in the final minutes and lost 11:9, even though they had the attack to win possible overtime.
Three matches at the World Cup - with the Greeks, Italians and Croatians - showed that the chosen ones Dejan Savić They can compete with the best teams on the planet, but they have also seen the other side. The one that no one likes... So in the quarterfinals - the most important match in the biggest tournaments - they were outclassed by Spain (14:5), who will fight for the title with the Hungarians today.
However, it is clear that Montenegro is not a top team, but a possible triumph in today's match would mean that three "big scalps" have been taken at this World Cup. That has not been seen for a long time since the "sharks"...
- It would be nice to finish the tournament with a win against an experienced team like Croatia. We want to give our all, be real and do what we can in the fight for fifth place. Another triumph would mean a lot - said the center Dušan Banićević.
Our water polo players played for fifth place last year at the European Championship, when they were defeated by Greece 15:10, and at the World Championships they were fifth in 2017. In the last three appearances - in 2022, 2023 and 2024 - three eighth places were recorded. So, losing to Croatia or winning, Montenegro will have its best placement at the World Championships in eight years, which in a way could mean a step forward. But it doesn't have to...
- I believe we will return home in a winning mood - is the defender's message Dimitrij Obradović.
While Montenegro is preparing for this step forward, Croatia has a motive to "not waste its image", as he said. Loren Fatovic.
- The last match didn't bring us much in terms of results, but we are ready to give our maximum again, because we don't want to ruin the image we have built over the past years - emphasized one of the best players of the current world champion.
- We wanted more, but that bad match in the quarter-finals against Hungary happened. The Montenegrins have excellent crosses, but we have to be tough and close down our rivals' counterattacks - he made it clear Matijas Biljaka.
Hungarians for fifth, Spaniards for fourth crown
Looking at the skeleton of the knockout stage, it's the expected final - Spain vs. Hungary for the world championship title.
Today, starting at 15.35:2022 p.m., the teams that were the best on the planet in 2023 and 12 will play - the Spaniards rejoiced in Budapest, and XNUMX months later the Hungarians in Fukuoka.
Hungary is now chasing a fifth crown, the Spaniards are going for a fourth...
- As always, we came to go all the way. Now there's one more step left to the throne - said Spanish center Roger Taulj.
The “Red Fury” went through hell against the Greeks in the semifinals. They led 6:2, then lost 7:6 before Alberto Munaris secured the fifth place with a goal seconds before the end.
The Hungarians, on the other hand, celebrated in the goleada offered by the classic with Serbia - 19:18.
- Whatever happens, we did a great job at the championship, launched young players and reached the final with them with a very good game. We want the title and we believe we can get it - emphasized the best Hungarian player Kristijan Manherc.
Serbia and Greece will decide the bronze medal at 11.35:XNUMX a.m.
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