“Our Focus Isn’t on Italy’s Defeat from Hungary’s Weakness; We Believe in Our Journey to the Semi-Finals.”
Mačić, Photo: Vuk Ilić
The quarterfinals are often the most challenging match in any major competition, determining whether one advances towards a medal or heads home. This January in Croatia, the “sharks” have already achieved a significant victory.
Following their success against France in the playoffs and a near-guaranteed spot at the World Cup in Doha, the Montenegrin water polo players are gearing up for a classic quarter-final showdown against Italy in Zagreb this Friday at 20:15.
“We anticipate a tough match; quarter-finals in the European Championship always carry substantial weight,” said Aljoša Mačić, the Sharks’ defender, from the Croatian capital.
By securing a place in the quarter-finals, the “Sharks” have nearly guaranteed their participation at the World Cup in Doha this February; their plans could only be derailed by a surprising victory from the Netherlands over Greece in today’s playoffs.
Coached by Vladimir Gojković, the team had to endure a longer route through the playoffs to reach the top eight, while “Setebelo,” having finished second in Group B, directly secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
Nevertheless, one group match remains a concern for Alessandra Campagna and the Italians—a decisive loss to Hungary (10:5), who came to “Sava” with a mixed squad.
“That defeat was definitely unexpected; Hungary arrived with a weakened lineup, and I anticipated a different outcome. However, we are focusing solely on ourselves and believing in reaching the semi-finals,” emphasized Mačić.
Regardless, Italy enters this match as one of the strongest teams globally, led by one of the greatest coaches of all time, while Montenegro also has its strategy in place.
“Italy is physically well-prepared, with several seasoned players and considerable individual strength. However, I believe we can compete with them and advance to the semi-finals,” added Mačić.
The “Sharks” and “Setebelo” faced each other in a friendly match during their preparations.
“They triumphed back then, but this time the stakes are entirely different—I am confident in our victory,” concluded Mačić, who is crucial in many defensive strategies for our team.
EP 2024 – Zagreb
Play-offs
Today
17:00 Georgia – Romania
19:00 Greece – Netherlands
Earlier
France – Serbia 10:14
Montenegro – Germany 10:5
Quarterfinals
Spain – Georgia/Romania
Italy – Montenegro
Hungary – Serbia
Croatia – Greece/Netherlands
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