Montenegro and the Belgrade Arena - there is a special connection. The largest hall in Serbia preserves unforgettable images of our sport, and under its arches the Montenegrin water polo team, this time from the shadows, will dream of a new great success.
In the Arena, where the Montenegrin women's handball team was crowned as the rulers of the Old Continent, she saw a three-pointer from the center Nikola Ivanovic and where the "sharks" won the silver medal 10 years ago, the European Water Polo Championship begins.
To start the journey to the top, guys. Dejan Savić, and our ever-young team, will have the easiest obstacle - a duel with Malta, which starts at 18 pm. There is no relaxation in matches like this, especially since under the new system, the group stage will last much longer than the knockout stage.
- It will be a strange competition, because it is played in a different system. Every point and goal counts, every one is important - said Savić from a press conference in Belgrade.
Good Vibrations
The new system is reminiscent of the one used at the European Handball Championships. The top three teams from the group containing the "Sharks" will, together with three from Group C (Spain, Israel, Serbia, Netherlands), form a new Group E, from which the two top teams will advance to the semifinals.
- This time there is no quarter-final, it will be difficult, but there are good vibes in Montenegro ahead of this competition. We came to advance and get into the semi-finals. And I believe that water polo is currently at its peak, which certainly makes it difficult for us - added Savić.
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countries have had European champions in water polo so far - Hungary is undisputed with 13 titles, followed by Serbia (8, including those inherited from Yugoslavia), Russia/USSR (5), Italy (3), Croatia and Germany (two each), Montenegro, Spain and the Netherlands (one each)
He and his guys have had more than a month of preparation behind them.
- Now we want to show everything we have done in preparation - Savić is clear.
The opening must be ideal.
Malta made its debut at the European Championships in Belgrade in 2016 and has been a regular participant, but also a regular outsider, ever since.
- We are eagerly awaiting the first match. It is not an understatement, but Malta is at a lower level than Montenegro at the moment - he said Vladan Spaić, center of Montenegro.
However...
- It must be emphasized that this selection has a lot of naturalized players, so we will need to prepare as seriously as possible and open the tournament in the right way. With a victory and the first three points - the anchor of the "Sharks" is clear.
DON'T MISS IT
Spaić was the scorer of one of the key goals in the third-place match at the 2020 championship, when Montenegro won its last medal, and now, like all of his teammates, he will make his debut at the Belgrade Arena.
- The atmosphere is phenomenal and I think it will be a pleasure to play in the Belgrade Arena. The organization is at the highest possible level, and we hope for the best possible result - concluded Spaić.
The appearance in Belgrade will be the 25th consecutive major competition in which Montenegro will compete since the restoration of independence, and the tenth European Championship. So far, the "sharks" have won four medals at the continental championships - gold in Malaga in 2008, silver medals in Eindhoven in 2012 and Belgrade in 2016, and bronze in Budapest in 2020.
Savić's return to his city and place of success
The championship in Belgrade will be special for the Montenegrin coach - Dejan Savić will lead the "sharks" in his hometown, but also in the hall where he became European champion in 2016.
The legendary water polo player and expert at the "Belgrade Arena" reached the throne 10 years ago with Serbia, and in the final he defeated Montenegro (10:8).
- We had our first training session at the Arena, emotions started to run high - said Savić.
Has anything changed?
- Everything is possible in ten years, but one thing is not - that is the organization. In Belgrade, it is always at a high level. I really have great memories and I hope that the water will not be cold like at Banjica - Savić added jokingly.
Montenegrin leads Malta
When the Montenegrin water polo players jump into the water of the Belgrade Arena tonight, they will see a familiar face on the other side of the pool. The Malta coach is Milan Ćirović, a young Montenegrin expert.
Ćirović has been on the bench of this team since January 2023, and as a child and former assistant coach at Jadran M:tel, he also learned from Vladimir Gojković.
In addition, he also worked in the younger teams of Montenegro.
Sharks at Euro 2026
Malta - Montenegro (today, 18 p.m.)
Hungary - Montenegro (Monday, 3:15 p.m.)
France - Montenegro (Wednesday, 18 p.m.)
Bonus video:
