The local derby, a matchup between longtime sports rivals and well-acquainted teams, will close out the European Championship segment held in Dubrovnik.

In the final round of Group A, Montenegro’s water polo team faces off against the host country, Croatia—the game in Gruž is set for tomorrow (Monday) at 20:15.

“We recognize that we’re up against a tough opponent, and we must do everything possible to win this game and finish this phase in Dubrovnik the way we began,” Croatian coach Ivica Tucak told HRT.

A win would secure our national team a direct spot in the quarterfinals, and Croatia, having won its first two matches, aims to return to Zagreb in the top position; however, a defeat could push them into the playoffs.

“We’re performing well, but we can and need to improve further if we want to achieve our goals,” Tucak added.

The trophy-winning coach, who previously led the Adriatic team from Herceg Novi, spoke highly of Montenegro.

“This is an exceptionally strong national team. They have incredible game rhythm, perhaps the best after Spain. While their players may not possess the same individual skills as the Spaniards, they compensate with great energy and aggression,” Tucak remarked.

He emphasized that he anticipates a challenging match.

“I’ve often stated that no one can take victory for granted when playing against them—they are always in the medal contention zone, but I believe we can beat them,” Tucak stated.

Prior to this matchup, the Croatian coach expressed concerns regarding the attack with a higher player, which had a poor performance in their convincing win over France.

“They played well against Spain, but had a disappointing 13-1 against France. We hurried too much in the first quarter, and we’ll analyze that; I believe we can do better. If we replicate such a poor performance, we certainly won’t win tough games,” Tucak concluded.

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