Ivica Tucak, the head coach of the Croatian water polo national team, previously managed Jadran from Herceg Novi between 2009 and 2012. With the Barracudas, he celebrated 11 successful years, garnering European and world titles, as well as an Olympic silver medal…

Having spent so much time at the highest level, Tucak also has extensive knowledge of the Montenegrin national team, which stands as Croatia’s opponent on the path to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Montenegro and Croatia share a long-standing rivalry in water polo, with the “Barracudas” often coming out on top. However, this tradition could shift when they meet at 10 am tomorrow at the “Marine Mesa” pool in Fukuoka.

“I am well-acquainted with the Montenegrin players and their coach, as well as their system and mindset. I anticipate a challenging match, as Montenegrins are among the elite in world water polo,” Tucak stated.

Croatia finished second in Group C, trailing Hungary, while Montenegro claimed the third spot in Group D after losses to Spain and Serbia.

“Montenegro consistently ranks among the top eight, even if medals have recently eluded them. They have a cohesive and dynamic young team where each player understands their role, and we must avoid getting caught up in their rhythm,” Tucak added.

The goal for Croatia is to secure a spot in the finals and earn a ticket to the Olympic Games.

“We must execute a tightly controlled attack in this game. We are hopeful for victory, as this match marks our first step towards reaching the finals,” Tucak emphasized.

He observed the match between Montenegro and Serbia and was taken aback by how it concluded—with the “Dolphins” triumphing by five goals.

“Montenegro dominated for two and a half quarters, so their loss was shocking to me. However, this raises my level of caution. Our opponents have vulnerabilities, and I hope we can exploit them,” Tucak concluded.

News