LEN Water Polo European Championship: Italians deprieved Montenegrins bronze

Italian water polo team won a bronze medal at the European Championship in Hungary, as in Budapest defeated Montenegro with 11:9 (1:3, 5:3, 2:2, 3:1) in the match for third place.

Montenegro couldn’t recover from a dramatic semi-final defeat to Serbia two days ago, when they had a four-goal lead twice and then lost eventually.

“Sharks” started a good match, they had a lead of 3-1. Montenegro is then led and 5-3, but Italy turned the series 3-0.

Montenegrins were able to tie at the end of the first half, but Italy then acquired two-goal lead, 8-6. Mladjan Janovic brought the tie 9:9 in the fourth quarter  but Italy then scored a goal with a player more, and then used  penalty for the final 11:9.

Pijetlović the best goalkeeper of the European Water Polo Championship – Crown of his career

Keeper of Serbian Water Polo team Gojko Pijetlovic awarded for the best ‘keeper in the European Championship in Hungary.

Serbian ‘keeper defended brilliantly throughout most of the European Championship, the only thing he might have had a bad period in the third quarter against Montenegro, but when it mattered most defended awesome in the finals and showed why he is the best ‘keeper in Europe.

– The crown of my career. I’m overwhelmed with the emotions. We are fantastic team – said the ‘keeper.

Denes Varga received the award for the best player, while Espanyol’s top scorer with 24 goals scored.

Filipovic: A show of force on Margit Sziget

Serbian water polo team defended its title as European champions in the final in Budapest defeated host of the championship, the Hungarian selection of 12:7. The new, third gold medal were won totally deserved after an impressive game throughout the match, a coach Dejan Savic players deserves our congratulations for what they have provided in a duel with traditional rivals in the water polo.

Serbian striker Filip Filipovic said that there were plenty of skeptics about the championship, especially after the group stage.

– We have never doubted the indisputable quality that is confirmed for many years. This is a team no matter what part of the game represents Serbia. We have seen that in the final big burden filed youngest players with little playing time. I dedicate the title to the people, the people who were left homeless. With all my heart we wanted to do. We breathe as one. On Margit Sziget played greats of Serbia and Hungary in the middle Serbia in the amazing way outplayed Hungary. It was a show of force and I do not remember that somebody in this game so defeated Hungarians – said Filip for the popular site for Water Polo Association of Serbia.

The water polo player of Pro  Reco commended the coach Dejan Savic.

– Congratulations to Dejan Savic, I give him  full support so as all the players. This is what he does best and if anyone doubted saw on Sunday that it works.  Anytime he takes responsibility for a bad result. Man of enormous heart and the relationship we have with him is such that not even I am sure that some of the coaches had. I would like to congratulate the birthday to Dejan Udovicic which has a large stake in this, and certainly happy for us – underlined Filipovic.

 

Hungarian media: Serbia played overwhelming water polo, in Belgrade to retaliate the Serbs

On Monday Hungarian media with disappointment admitted that the Serbian team deserved to win the European Championship in Budapest and estimate that the Serbian “dolphins” showed brilliant game in the final against the host of the championship.

The best Serbian water polo players in the final of the European Championships in Budapest on Sunday night,  defeated Hungary 12-7 and the defended the title, a site index, said that the team of Dejan Savic played “overwhelming  water polo.” In the first stage of the competition Hungary beat Serbia to 8: 6, and as stated in the mentioned portal, “the home team unfortunately did not have the strength to beat great rival twice in 10 days.”

Website Origi said that the domestic selection suffered major setback and disappointment, the question “whether a silver medal or lost gold.” The website published a statement of Montenegro water polo player  Miklos  Gor Nagy, who said that winning the silver medal is the “worst feeling” and that Hungary will “return the Serbs” at the next European Championship 2016.  in Belgrade.

Gondola on the site says that the Serbian water polo team played “perfectly” and that Hungarian selection made ​​”the worst performance when it was needed.”

Website Hir24 said that the Serbia showed a completely different game than the one from the game with the host in the group stage and a statement of the selector ofHungary Tibor Benedek who said that Serbia is currently the best team.

– We have made ​​progress, but Serbia is the best, and four or five selections are trying to catch up with them – said Benedek.

LEN Water Polo European Championship: Serbia and Hungary will cross their spears in the fight for gold

Still under the impression of a heroic victory achieved against Montenegro, Serbian water polo team will play the finals against Hungary in Budapest tonight at 8:30 pm CET. “Dolphins” of Dejan Savic, recall, defend the cup that they won two years ago in Eindhoven when they defeated Montenegrins and got in their hands the fifth gold medal in the championship of the Old Continent.

Hungarians are still by far the most successful team in the European Championships with 12 gold medals, but the last time they were on the throne was in 1999.  Since then they have only been to the finals in Belgrade in 2006, and then were defeated by Serbian selection.

– This team has something … It is an honor to play with them. Never lose hope. It will be hard to play in the finals with the Hungarians. There is an enormous motivation as the gold is the reward. It all depends on our defense, and hope that their goalies will not be as successful as last time. It will be unlikely without a lot of nice moves and caution is necessary. After a seventh place at the World Cup this is a huge step forward. We have shown that we are a great team when we play all for one. Hungarians will enter in the match relaxed, with a desire to do their best. But we want it – said Stefan Mitrovic, the best scorer of Serbian team in the game with Montenegro.

Serbia and Hungary have already played head to head duel at the European Championships in the group, when the host team was better and won the match score of 8-6.

 

LEN Water Polo European Championship: Greeks on Serbia’s path to the semifinals and a derby with the Montenegrins

The best Serbian water polo players against Greece are fighting for a place in the semi-finals of the European Championships in Hungary at 8:30 pm CET.  Serbia and Greece played 15 times so far, where Serbian national team has recorded 12 wins, a draw and two defeats.

The eve of the quarter-final clash Filip Filipovic top scorer of Serbian selection with 13 goals, said that in their camp are aware of the importance of the match with the Greeks.

– This is like a final. Greeks are really shown a lot in the tournament. We know what we do, and what will surprise our fans. We climb up from match to match, gearing up and I wouldn’t like to be in the skin of a team that is a rival to Serbia – said Filipovic.

Coach of the Serbian water polo team Dejan Savic said that Greece has high quality and is a selection against who should be played like as against Spain.

– Guys play well and I announced them as a possible surprise of the championship.  They are well disciplined and need to access to a match like with Spain if they are going to win. We were not allowed to blunder and fail. If we had lost, they would have to use some to underestimate the force of water polo, as well as the value of Serbian sport.  Although the fact that we have 15 years on the edge and sustain us result of representation only – Savic said.

Today on the program are matches Russia – Germany (16:00), Georgia – France (17:30) and Italy – Croatia (19:00).  Hungarians and Montenegrins as group winners qualified directly to the semifinals. Winner of the duel Serbia and Greece will play with Montenegro on Friday, while Hungary will wait for the winner of the match Italy – Croatia.

LEN Water Polo European Championship: Hungarian coach believes in his team’s strenght

Hungary continues to beat its opponents at this years European Championship, and they beat Croatia as well, and finished the group stage with 100%. Head Coach Tibor Benedek commented on the performance.

-You pointed up for many times that the best improvement for the team would be during the tournament game by game.  After the game Adam Decker said that today you did not necessarily improve but you got stronger. Do you agree?-

-Yes. It’s very hard to analyze such a game tactically, because there’s so much stress on both sides, the teams are basically killing each other in the water. A referee’s decision, an exclusion, a fault can happen anytime, at any side, and you can never know who’s gonna be in the pool. This was the kind of the match we can expect later on the tournament, that’s the type of the game we are gonna play at the final.-

– It came good to finish the group stage against such a strong team.-

-Absolutely. I’ve already told in the beginning: not even I could choose a better opponent.-

-Now there are 3 and a half rest days. Will the players get free time?-

-Yes, for sure, but I would rather not talking about the program of the squad, as what matters is the way they will play on Friday. We will do our best to give them enough time to rest, but also they need to train hard.-

-The preliminaries have come to an end, and we see the group tables. How strong do you think the field of the European Championship is?-

– We really didn’t have games that we could have won easy, but that was actually quite good for us. This way we became stronger, now I feel that the team is completely ready to fight anyone in the semi-final. Having a few days to rest is also on our side, very positive for us. These 5 games we have behind us were a lot tougher than the 5 matches for those who have qualified from the other group.  We had only hard trials, even the German and the French games were tight in the first half. I think our situation is good, we are waiting for the upcoming matches from a good position. Of course, the two weeks could also be different for each others: it happens that the teams which have more mistakes at the beginning get better at the second half, and those who were brilliant during the first week, lose inspiration later, but now I absolutely feel that Hungarian team is strong. We had many tight games all along this season which we won in the end.

LEN Water Polo European Championship: DAY 8

Main question at the championship is who will advance to the next round: Montenegro or Italy, and who will make it to the cross game from the Serbia-Croatia-Spain trio.

3rd Game:

France-Germany 8-7 (1-0, 0-2, 4-4, 3-1)

Goals: Marzouki 3, Blary 2, Saudider, Jablonski, Khasz 1-1 (France); Nossek, Schueler 2-2, Real, Eidner Oschernikat 1-1 (Germany)

Two teams without a score faced each other at this game. The France-Germany fight decided who will play for 9th place. Team of Germany looks stronger, but France had a good and tough defense, and they didn’t get goal in the first quarter. In the 2nd period Germany came up with two hits (from Schueler and Nossek), so they were in the lead by the end of the first half.

After the break they could step away with two goals twice, but in the last eight minutes French turned the standings and they were able to get the victory in the last seconds – just like Greece in the previous round.

After the break they could step away with two goals twice, but in the last eight minutes France turned the standings and they were able to get the victory in the last seconds – just like Greece in the previous round.

 

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2nd Game:

Russia-Romania 8-11 (2-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2)

Goals: Kholod 3, Zinnatullin, Odintsov, Stepanuk, Timakov,  Shepelev 1-1 (Russia);

Negrean 5, Radu 2, Busila, Diaconu, Chioveanu,  Gheorghe 1-1 (Romania)

After a mentally very disappointing defeat against Greece in the previous round, after the leading all along the game, and with two goals received by Mylonakis in the last 30 seconds, Romanian water polo players had to face Russian team in the last round of the group stage. Romanians may show a  sturdy and dynamic form from the very starting, and didnt let Russia to outfold. Romanian team could still score an equalizer at 3-3, but then Radu’s team got the lead by five goals.

 

They were strong in saving the victory in their hands, and with these 3 points they finished 4th in the group.

 

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1st Game:

Montenegro-Georgia 17-2 (4-0, 4-0, 4-1, 5-1)

Goals: Ivovic 6, M. Janovic 4, Jokic 2, Darko Brguljan, Drasko Brguljan, Cuckovic, Paskovic, Klikovak 1-1(Montenegro);

illetve Elez 2 (Georgia)

 

As Montenegro tied with Italy, probably the goal difference will decide which team will finish on the top of the table in Group A. But, at least in case of Italy defeats Greece. That’s why Drasko Brguljan’s side had to beat Georgia with as many goals as they could score. Montenegrin team did an excellent job;  it was not until the last seconds of the 3rd period (!) that Georgia could score a goal – finally it was Marko Elez dropping the ball behind Montenegrin goalkeeper Radic following a time-out, so the 3rd quarter finished at 12-1.  Zdravko Radic helped his team a lot to build up such a huge goal difference with a saving rate of 83,3% – only two shots could make it through him out of 12.

 

The final score was 17-12, which means Italy should beat Greece by 12 goals to keep their first place in the group.

 

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Monday’s schedule:

11.30am: Montenegro-Georgia
1pm: Oroszország-Románia
2.30pm: France-Germany
4pm: Serbia-Spain
7pm: Greece-Italy
8.30pm: Hungary-Croatia

 

LEN Water Polo European championship: Serbs powerful at a start

Serbian water polo team has the start of the European Championship in Hungary. In Budapest chosen ones of Dejan Savic celebrated a convincing victory over France 16:5, the fourth (4:1, 3:1, 3:0, 6:3). The next rival of “dolphins” will be Germany.

The winner is not compromised at any moment. Already half the difference in the quality of favorites and outsiders was evident and grew as the match progressed, along with lead  of Dejan Savic.  

The French only managed to finish mitigate lost when it eased concentration in Serbian players in defense phase. All things considered, a very good and encouraging start to Serbia at the European Championship, where defending the title won 2012.  in Eindhoven.

The top scorer on the team was a Serbian Slobodan Nikic with four goals and two goals scored by Dusan Mandic, Dusko Pijetlovic, Filip Filipovic and Andrija Prlainovic, while at the list of shooters entered and Zivko Gocic, Milos Cuk, Milan Aleksic and Stefan Mitrovic .

In addition to Serbia and France in group B, there are also Hungary, Croatia and Spain. In the first match of the group, Croatia beat Germany 10-5.