Serbia Up, USA Down, Canada Even in First Day of Men’s Water Polo at FINA World Championships

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Canada's Reuel Mark D'Souza celebrates during 1st round match vs. Montenegro. Photo Courtesy Balazs Cagany

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In a first day of men’s water polo action marked by surprise, unexpected adversity and a reversed retirement, there was one constant: Serbia is playing better polo right now than any team in the world. The Serbs—a heavy favorite to win a second straight FINA World Championship crown, dominated an over-matched South African team by a score of 21-5. Led by three goals apiece from Milan Aleksic, Nikola Jaksic and Andrija Prlainovic, the reigning Olympic, European, Super Final and World champs converted 21 of 37 shots, blistering goalies Julian Lewis and Themba Mthembu.

Serbia was joined among the day’s winners by a spirited Italian team that saw three of its players felled by an undisclosed illness but still managed to outclass Group B rival France 18-9. Goran Volarevic took over in goal for Marco Del Lungo, with 38 year-old Stefano Tempesti—goalie as Italy won Olympic silver in 2012 and bronze in 2016—coming out of retirement to back-up former back-up Volarevic. With Francesco Di Fulvio leading the way with five goals the Azzurri opened group play with a clear warning: they are a dangerous team.

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A full house for Australia vs. Hungary

Next up for Italy is a most difficult challenge; the host Hungarians, fresh off a 13-3 thrashing of Australia. With their fans jamming the stands of the Alfréd Hajós National Swimming Stadium, Hungary received explosive offense from Denes Varga, who netted four goals on an economical five shots, and superb net play from goalie Viktor Nagy (13 saves) to dominate the Aussies.

Tamás Märcz, who backstopped Hungary to Olympic gold in 2000, has the unenviable task of talking over from former head coach Tibor Benedek, among the greatest players in Hungarian water polo history. But if Märcz succeeds in getting his team into the medal round at FINA Worlds, he will certainly make his countrymen forget futility the past few years under Benedek.

A win over Italy Wednesday in the day’s featured match will not only almost ensure that they capture their group, it will position the Hungarians for a favorable quarterfinal match-up. Australia will look to get into the Group B win column with its match against France, prior to a Friday meeting with Italy.

An early surprise was Canada’s remarkable comeback in the fourth quarter of its Group A match against Montenegro. A seemingly safe Montenegrin lead was wiped out in the game’s final six minutes, as George Torakis scored with 21 seconds left to cap a run of four unanswered goals and give the Canadians a well-deserved 8-8 draw. They will look to maintain momentum in a contest against Kazakhstan, a 6-2 loser to Brazil in the day’s opening match. Montenegro will hope to regroup against Brazil, which got 11 saves from Slobodan Soro to take the early lead in Group A with two points.

Croatia got four goals from native Catalan Javier Garcia Gadea and four from Luka Loncar in silencing a youthful American squad 12-7 in Group D play. One of the few bright spots for the U.S. was the first World Championship goal by 18 year-old attacker Marko Vavic. On Wednesday the Croatians will face Russia, a 15-8 winner over Japan, with the Americans perhaps scoreboard watching during their match-up with Japan. Of particular concern is that Team USA does not look ahead to a Friday showdown with Russia and underestimate an improving Japanese squad that in 2016 returned to Olympic play after a 32-year absence, and which will host the 2020 Games.

Spain and Greece delivered the day’s most exciting match, a back and forth affair that saw Greece squander a three-goal lead before getting the game-winner from Georgio Dervisis with less than two minutes remaining to take an 8-7 decision in Group C action. Next up for Spain are the dominant Serbians; a second loss in the group will damage the Spaniards’ chances for a favorable draw in the quarterfinals play-in for the group’s second and third place finishers.

With a match Wednesday against South Africa, the Greeks have an ideal opportunity to cement their Group C status prior to facing mighty Serbia on Friday. Will form hold as men’s play continues? One idea yet to be challenged: can anybody stop the Serbs?

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Shaheen Alghofari
6 years ago

Douglas Walker I trust you’re keeping up with this

Marko
Marko
6 years ago

You misspelled all of the Serbia’s players names 😉

John j
John j
6 years ago

The Serbs have been beaten 3 times… in the last three and a half years, and all those loses have been prelim games. No team has been able to beat them in the medal rounds. Since the 2013 WCH fiasco were they finished 7th, they have won ten straight championships including this years 5th world league (in succession) were they came back from being 4-0 down to Italy to eventually win the game. The Serbs almost look at times like a team that is so used to wining that they seem to hold off at times to make the matches more interesting like in the WL final. This is were I feel an upset is possible since any great team can have an off day, and an underdog that is motivated to be the first to defeat the champs could pull it off, much like Montenegro did to Serbia back in quarter finals in 2013 WCH.

However, if Serbia plays anywhere near to their full potential every team must worry not only in being beat, but beaten badly. There was a reason why people suspected of Italy and especially Croatia of intentionally losing their final prelim matches of the Rio games. No one wants to play against the Serbs!

Pro Women Fitness
6 years ago

ltnc, thx for posting

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