On Sunday, the reigning European champion, Croatia, suffered a defeat in Fukuoka, paving the way for Montenegrin water polo players to advance to the semi-finals of the World Championship. They are set to face a team that contested the Olympic finals two summers ago.

Greece awaits as the next opponent for the “sharks,” another squad that arrived in Japan with aspirations of medal contention. Like Croatia, they are not invincible and should not intimidate the talented Montenegrin team led by Vladimir Gojković.

Our national team put forth a tremendous effort against Croatia, demonstrating the ability to overcome a perceived superior opponent. This “spark” was essential for the new generation after the past two years of falling short against stronger teams in major competitions.

Having broken that barrier, they now face the Hellenes in a quarter-final match scheduled for Tuesday at 8 a.m.

“The Greeks are a very formidable team, and we must remember that we are up against the Olympic vice-champions who have outstanding individuals. Moreover, Greece boasts an impressive lineup of young talent,” stated Dusan Matkovic. Matkovic, pivotal in attacking plays against Serbia and Croatia, is crucial for Montenegro.

The former captain of Primorje, who was recently reinforced by the French Noisy le Sec, netted seven goals in his last two appearances—four against the “Barracuda” in the last game alone. If only this momentum could continue…

“We need to start the match with our best swimming. Imposing ourselves from the get-go and establishing a rhythm that suits us is essential. If we achieve that, we stand a good chance of winning,” Matković asserted.

DUEL WITH CROATIA EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

Leading up to the quarter-finals, Greece performed flawlessly with three victories (against Canada, Kazakhstan, and the USA).

In a critical group match against the USA, which determined first place, they made a remarkable comeback from a five-goal deficit (9:4).

On the other hand, Montenegro faced a tougher path with more games played, but has rightfully secured a spot among the top eight…

“The match against Croatia was an emotional rollercoaster. I am proud of the team, especially for their incredible belief in victory. We’ve broken the streak of defeats against top teams, and I hope this gives us the momentum to approach the next matches even stronger,” Matković expressed.

POPADIĆ: THIS CANNOT BE A TURNING POINT

Defender Vlado Popadić feels that Greece may offer a slightly less challenging matchup than Croatia.

“This duel could represent a turning point. Quarter-finals always hold that significance, as victory leads to a shot at the medals. If we reach the semi-finals, it will prove to ourselves that we can consistently perform at the highest level. It would also send a clear message to other national teams that they need to take us seriously,” Popadić remarked.

Greece arrived in Fukuoka without a full squad, missing Angelos Vlahopoulos. However, the tandem of centers Konstadinos Kakaris – Dimitrios Nikolaidis has drawn significant attention from our team.

“We’ve known them since our junior years; they’re arguably the best center duo in the world. We plan to put pressure on the Greeks with pressing and swimming. Our form has been improving at the World Cup, and I’m confident we can achieve victory,” said guard Aljoša Macic.

The team’s anchor, Miroslav Perković, also conveyed optimism:

“Greece isn’t performing at the level we’re used to, possibly due to the absence of Vlahopoulos, who is instrumental in organizing attacks and setting defensive strategies. I believe we’re on par right now, and we have every right to aim for the semi-finals.”

Greece has triumphed in their last two encounters with Montenegro in major competitions.

Last year, during the European Championship in Split, they secured a 14:12 victory in the playoff for the 5th to 8th spot, while in 2021, they defeated Montenegro 10:4 in the Olympic quarter-finals before eventually losing to Serbia in the finals…

The winner of tomorrow’s match will face the victor of the Italy vs. Serbia game, scheduled for 9:30 a.m., while Hungary meets the USA at 12:30 p.m., and Spain clashes with France in another match.

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