When in Malaga 2008, despite the phenomenal generation, everything was unknown for Montenegrin water polo, the group victory over giant Hungary somehow showed the "sharks" that they were ready for great things.
It's similar almost 18 years later, except that it's now unknown how much the ever-young Montenegrin team can do, and a duel with the land of water polo could reveal a lot.
The Montenegrin water polo players will play against Hungary in the derby of Group A of the European Championship, in a match that will decide who will continue the competition from the number one position, starting at 3:15 p.m.
Hungarians today don't have the golden generation like the one back then that regularly won Olympic gold, but they are still great and the real test is whether the team is Dejan Savić already ready for important stories. After all, our national team has been waiting for a victory against the most trophy-winning European team since 2018.
- A top team awaits us, and the upcoming match is of paramount importance in the fight for a place in the semi-finals - he made it clear Miroslav Perković, center of Montenegro.
The new European Championship system is well known, as the three best teams from the group will advance to the main round, and only the top two from the new group will advance to the semifinals and continue fighting for medals.
- I think it will be a key match in our group, a fight for first place - he believes. Aljoša Macic, another of the “shark”'s trump cards.
The two former European champions had no problems at the start of the tournament in the Belgrade Arena - Montenegro defeated Malta (21:12), and Hungary was better than France (15:7).
- Hungary has great individual quality, they stand out Christian Manherz, Vince i Vendel Vigvari, excellent goalkeeper Shoma Vogel"With all that, they seem really powerful as a team," Perković added.
Dejan Savić's boys also have their own calculations.
- I believe that we can match the Hungarians, and like everyone on the team, I believe that with a high level of play in both directions we can achieve victory - the Montenegrin "anchorman" is clear.
And the first match against France showed that in Hungary's game, much depends on the mood of one master, the team captain.
- Manherc is their main player. The most important thing is to provide him with the most difficult path to attack and transition, the blocks will have to be up to par - explained Mačić.
After a tough training session with Malta, the new match at the "Belgrade Arena" will be the complete opposite.
- We expect a physically difficult match, but we have our chances and I believe that with the support of the audience we can achieve victory - concluded Mačić.
Attack has always been Hungary's strongest weapon, and the coach of that team Zolt Varga believes that defense will be key against Montenegro.
- Only with the level of defense against France can we expect a good result against Montenegro, but also in the rest of the tournament - explained Varga.
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