Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary Top European Prelims of FINA Men’s Water Polo World League

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, February 2. MONTENEGRO, Serbia and Hungary confirmed their superiority in the respective groups of the European preliminaries of the FINA Men's Water Polo World League 2013, held in various cities of the Old Continent on February 1-2.

In Group A, Montenegro got its fourth consecutive win by beating at home (in Kotor) the Croatian squad by 6-5. With this triumph, the Montenegrins almost assured their presence in the Super Final, while Croatia (2012 Olympic champions) will not play the decisive tournament of the competition. Greece, with its comfortable triumph (15-4) in Istanbul against Turkey, can theoretically finish first of the group in case of victories against the two Balkan teams.

In Novi Sad, playing for Group B, Serbia assured the presence in the Super Final of the competition by easily defeating Germany by 13-4.

In Group C, Olympic silver medallist and 2011 World champion Italy could not make it in Volgograd, losing after the penalty shootout 12-10 to Russia (at the end of the regular time, the two teams were tied at 8-8). In the lead of the group, Hungary triumphed over Romania in Debrecen by the minimal difference of one goal — 9-8. The Magyars also totalled their fourth win in four games played so far.

While the six-round European tournament will conclude in the end of March, the Asia/Oceania tournament kicks off May 9th in Auckland (NZL) and the Americas tournament is scheduled to start on May 24 in the United States (city to be announced).

The Men's Super Final will take place from June 11-16, 2013 (city to be announced).

Provisional rankings:
GROUP A: 1. MNE, 12 pts (4 wins); 2. CRO, 6 (2W, 2 losses); 3. GRE, 6 (2W, 2L); 4. TUR, 0 (4L)
GROUP B: 1. SRB, 9 pts (3W); 2. ESP, 2 (1W, 1L); 3. GER, 1 (3L)
GROUP C: 1. HUN, 12 pts (4W); 2. ITA, 7 (2W, 2L); 3. RUS, 3 (1W, 3L); 4. ROU, 2 (1W, 3L)

Next round (5) on March 27, 2013:
Group A: GRE-MNE and CRO-TUR
Group B: ESP-SRB
Group C: ROU-RUS and ITA-HUN

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