In their matchup against France, the “sharks” demonstrated composure during the penalty shootout, while their game against Spain showcased several positives, albeit without the decisive strength to secure a direct advance to the quarterfinals. The upcoming game in Dubrovnik will pit them against the host nation, offering another chance to reach the top eight.

Tomorrow (Monday, 20:15 p.m.), Montenegrin water polo athletes will face Croatia as they bid farewell to the Gruž swimming pool. This derby will determine the position from which Vladimir Gojković’s team will head to Zagreb for the European Championship finals.

The “Barracudas” have played flawlessly in the first two rounds; however…

“In those initial rounds, they didn’t showcase any exceptional performance that would warrant concern,” noted our talented left-handed player, Aleksa Ukropina.

The top two teams from the group will secure direct spots in the quarterfinals, while the other two will enter a playoff. It appears Croatia holds a favorable position heading into the final round, yet even Ivica Tucak’s squad has not clinched a place in the top eight.

“This is a crucial match—it can potentially land us second place in the group or even miraculously first,” Ukropina said.

Water polo player Panionios highlighted an important factor.

“The only concern I have is the officiating—obviously, the referees will favor the hosts. We must navigate this challenge and focus on our gameplay,” Ukropina asserted.

The match against formidable Spain serves as a valuable indicator of the direction in which the “sharks” should be headed.

“We performed significantly better in that match compared to our game against France, both in terms of speed and overall team dynamics. We aim to enhance every aspect with each match and approach every game as if it’s the final one. We’ll give it our all, and I’m hopeful our form will improve as the tournament progresses,” Ukropina added.

Another key left-handed player on the Montenegro team, Đuro Radović, emphasized the significance of the forthcoming game.

“Facing the Croats offers a lot for us—I firmly believe we’ll outperform our previous two matches,” Radović expressed.

One can hardly expect surprises when facing neighboring teams…

“We know the Croats better than any other team in the European Championship—they’re playing at home and have the crowd behind them. We need to stay true to our strategies; if we do that, I believe we can secure a win,” Radović concluded.

Scenarios for Zagreb: Sharks could still start from 1st place

As the final 32 minutes in group A approach, nothing has been finalized yet. Despite Montenegro having only one victory in five rounds, they could still advance to the finals in Zagreb as the top seed.

This outcome would be possible if the “sharks” defeat Croatia, and France manages to surprise Spain. A triumph over the hosts, without assistance from the “tricolor” team, would ensure Montenegro finishes in second place and advances to the quarterfinals.

Should they lose to Croatia while Spain wins, our team would conclude in third position, while a defeat against Croatia alongside a French victory would drop them to fourth, leading to playoff contention.

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