Once the group compositions and knockout phase matchups for the World Championship in Fukuoka were established, Montenegro’s water polo team set their sights on securing a top-two finish in Group D. This goal was critical to avoid facing powerhouse teams like Hungary or Croatia, the favorites in Group C.

While Spain was the clear favorite for the top position, Montenegro missed a significant opportunity to secure second place. They ended up in third, trailing behind Spain and Serbia, the latter of which delivered a heavy defeat to Montenegro just two days prior, complicating their path.

Had Montenegro triumphed over Serbia in a match where they led 5-0 for 27 minutes, they would have faced Japan. Instead, they now find themselves fighting for survival against Croatia, a team eager for a medal.

Although the “Barracudas” may not be as formidable as in previous years, Montenegro also faces challenges. The national team struggles to compete with the elite teams in major tournaments and often encounters problems when facing ostensibly weaker opponents.

Coach Vladimir Gojković knows that facing the reigning European champion requires an extraordinary performance, which has eluded them for a while. Montenegro needs to excel to stay in contention for a medal and to set up a potential quarter-final match against Greece on Tuesday.

From this standpoint, a clash with the Greeks seems distant. Yet, in the span of 32 minutes of play, surprises can happen, and Croatia is not unbeatable. There are enough weaknesses for the Montenegrin team to exploit…

“In the knockout stage, every match feels like a final. We’re up against the European champions and will prepare to give it our all. It was the same mindset against Serbia—though we fell short, we must forget that match and move forward,” stated Konstantin Averka, the Belarusian player representing Montenegro.

SPAIĆ: OPPORTUNITY IN SWIMMING AND AGGRESSIVENESS

Montenegro’s chance lies in overcoming the painful defeat against the “Dolphins.” It’s no small feat, as “demons of the past” have resurfaced. The younger generation is now acutely aware of how previous teams, filled with prominent names, often faltered during crucial competitions.

“We can expect a closely contested game. The Croats excel in the fullback and center positions, especially with Josip Vrlić, whom we must focus on. We’ll seek opportunities through a strong pace, aggressive swimming, and intensity—similar to our previous matches against Spain and Serbia—hoping it disrupts Croatia,” explained center Vladan Spaić.

TUCAK: UNBELIEVABLE HOW MONTENEGRO LOST…

Croatian coach Ivica Tucak managed Jadran from Herceg Novi between 2009 and 2012 and has been leading the “Barracudas” for over a decade, securing European and world titles along the way…

Having spent considerable time on the biggest stage, he’s quite familiar with the Montenegrin national team.

“I know the Montenegrin players and their coach well, along with their system. I expect our match to be challenging, as Montenegrins are top-tier in water polo. They consistently rank among the top eight, despite recent near-misses at medals. It’s a cohesive and dynamic young team where every player is aware of their role, and we must avoid falling into their rhythm,” Tucak noted.

The seasoned coach reflected on the Montenegro-Serbia match, admitting he could hardly believe the outcome, which saw the “Dolphins” winning by five.

“Montenegro displayed such dominance for two and a half quarters, so the outcome is shocking to me. Yet, it adds to my caution heading into our game. Our opponent has vulnerabilities, and I hope we can capitalize on them,” Tucak concluded.

Historically, Montenegro has only been eliminated in the round of 2009 on two occasions. Both instances occurred at the World Championship—first in Rome in ’10, when a favored Montenegro was shocked by Germany, and again in Gwangju ’19 when Australia proved superior.

Round of 16 Matchups:

USA – Canada 7:00

Australia – France 8:30

Montenegro – Croatia 10:00

Japan – Serbia 11:30

Quarterfinals (Tuesday):

Montenegro/Croatia – Greece

Italy – Japan/Serbia

Hungary – USA/Canada

Spain – Australia/France

News