Training in South Africa was straightforward (35:10), but the real challenge for Montenegrin water polo players begins on Wednesday morning for us (06:30) against formidable Spain.

“We’re facing the toughest match in our group, against possibly the best team in the world,” stated our left-handed water polo player, Aleksa Ukropina, from Japan.

The reigning world champion comfortably defeated Serbia in their opening match (16:14), but Ukropina is confident there will be no mysteries in the pool tomorrow.

“We’ve competed against them multiple times over the years, and we know what to anticipate,” he clarified.

What strategy should Montenegro adopt for the Group D clash?

“We aim to be aggressive from the outset to match their tempo, which they often dictate. With the right mindset, I believe the game can swing in any direction,” Ukropina expressed, reflecting on his roots in Herceg Novi.

There’s no need to elaborate on Spain’s strengths…

“They feature outstanding individual players whom we need to mark closely and minimize their impact. If we can achieve that, the game can remain competitive,” concluded Ukropina.

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