﻿{"id":329351,"date":"2018-09-16T10:02:37","date_gmt":"2018-09-16T17:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=329351"},"modified":"2018-09-25T12:32:50","modified_gmt":"2018-09-25T19:32:50","slug":"in-fina-world-cup-semis-australia-beats-cinderella-germany-will-play-hungary-in-first-ever-world-cup-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/in-fina-world-cup-semis-australia-beats-cinderella-germany-will-play-hungary-in-first-ever-world-cup-final\/","title":{"rendered":"In FINA Water Polo Semis, Australia Beats Cinderella Germany, Will Play Hungary in First-Ever World Cup Final"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By Michael Randazzo, Swimming World Contributor<\/em><\/p>\n<p>BERLIN, Germany. At Europasportpark a burgeoning dream of German polo success took a major hit Saturday with a shootout loss to Australia.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"328615\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/new-rules-lead-to-old-result-for-u-s-men-versus-croatia\/fina-berlin-logo\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo.png\" data-orig-size=\"329,324\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"fina-berlin-logo\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;fina-berlin-logo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Photo Courtesy:&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo.png\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-328615\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo.png\" alt=\"fina-berlin-logo\" width=\"225\" height=\"222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo.png 329w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo-203x200.png 203w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo-50x50.png 50w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fina-berlin-logo-150x148.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The 11-10 defeat\u2014decided by 3-2 in penalty shots\u2014ended Germany&#8217;s thrilling run towards the title match of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waterpolo-worldcup.berlin\/\">FINA Men\u2019s Water Polo World Cup 2018<\/a>, and relegates the Germans to the third place match against mighty Serbia, a surprise loser on Day Five of action.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the setback, Head Coach <strong>Haggen Stamm<\/strong> was impressed by what his players have accomplished all week in front of their countrymen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe played our maximum. Australia was in front and we always fought back, so I\u2019m very proud of my boys,\u201d Stamm said right after the match. \u201cAt the end not successful, but it\u2019s a question of small things.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut, if you miss three penalties, it is the case that Australia will beat you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now it\u2019s the Aussies, which has seen a revival of its program with the recent return of Richie Campbell, a veteran of the 2016 Rio Olympics, to Head Coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/on-the-record-with-elvis-fatovic-coach-for-australian-national-mens-water-polo-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Elvis Fatovic\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> roster, that advances to the their first-ever World Cup final against another surprise winner: Hungary. Head Coach <strong>Tamas Marcz<\/strong><strong>\u2019s <\/strong>squad lost their first match 12-10 against an inspired German team\u2014with major credit to the referees who fouled out four Sharks as they, along with players, coaches and spectators, struggle to adapt new rule changes imposed less than two years before polo\u2019s biggest polo event of all: the Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>But the Germans remain the story of this tournament. Even though they dropped a second one-goal decision to the Aussies in the last three days, the collective spirit in the water and in the stands, demonstrate a much brighter future for polo here. The game with Australia was a back and forth affair, with neither team ever gaining more than a one goal advantage. For much of the match German captain <strong>Julian Real<\/strong> was the leader his young teammates needed, scoring twice while spearheading a combined defense that limited <strong>Joe Kayes<\/strong>, Australia\u2019s massive center, to one score in three opportunities, after he shredded the German defense for five goals in a 9-8 loss on Thursday.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_329467\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-329467\" data-attachment-id=\"329467\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/in-fina-world-cup-semis-australia-beats-cinderella-germany-will-play-hungary-in-first-ever-world-cup-final\/14-09-2018-waterpolo-berlinfina-mens-water-polo-world-cups-2018\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1125\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Marcel ter Bals&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS-1D X Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;14-09-2018: Waterpolo: Berlin\\nFINA Men\\u2019s Water Polo World Cups 2018&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1537038458&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Sportphoto.shop\\\/Marcel ter Bals&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;4000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.000625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;14-09-2018: Waterpolo: Berlin\\nFINA Men\\u2019s Water Polo World Cups 2018&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"real-germany-sep18\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;14-09-2018: Waterpolo: Berlin FINA Men\u2019s Water Polo World Cups 2018&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Photo Courtesy: Sportphoto.shop&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18-700x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18-1024x576.jpeg\" class=\"wp-image-329467 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"14-09-2018: Waterpolo: Berlin FINA Men\u2019s Water Polo World Cups 2018\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18-533x300.jpeg 533w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18-280x158.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18-150x84.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18-500x281.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/real-germany-sep18.jpeg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-329467\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Germany&#8217;s Julian Real. Photo Courtesy: Sportphoto.shop<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But, when his team needed a special moment from their captain, that moment was simply too much; Real missed a penalty shot in the shootout that would have given Germany an insurmountable two goal advantage.<\/p>\n<p>So much has been accomplished in a tournament that has already seen Germany qualify for its first FINA World Championship since 2013, but Stamm was entirely focused on the game at hand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst of all we have to play the game tomorrow,\u201d he said. \u201cIt will be really important for the boys to win a medal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>For the Sharks\u2019 coach, perhaps the biggest opponent beside the Germans\u2014and perhaps the referees\u2014was fatigue. Playing for a fifth straight day, he was appreciative that his players rose to the occasion one day after one of the biggest victories of his career as head coach for Australia: a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/germans-win-group-a-at-fina-mens-water-polo-world-cup-2018-hope-to-book-flight-for-2019-fina-worlds-tonight-against-south-africa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">9-8 victory over Croatia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe we were more exhausted from the previous game than Germany, because they played with South Africa,\u201d Fatovic said after the match. \u201cBut we want to put the best effort for tomorrow; we don\u2019t play so often in the finals of tournament like this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a major understatement; this is the first time in history that Australia has advanced this far in a FINA World Cup tournament.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_328880\" style=\"width: 460px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-328880\" data-attachment-id=\"328880\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/on-the-record-with-elvis-fatovic-coach-for-australian-national-mens-water-polo-team\/fatovic_sep18\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1085,723\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"fatovic_sep18\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;fatovic_sep18&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Photo Courtesy: Waterpology&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18-700x500.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-328880\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18-700x500.jpg\" alt=\"fatovic_sep18\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18-533x355.jpg 533w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18-280x187.jpg 280w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/fatovic_sep18.jpg 1085w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-328880\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Courtesy: Waterpology<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Leading the scoring for the Sharks was Aaron Younger, who struck for three goals; perhaps it\u2019s no surprise that player of the game honors were awarded to goalie <strong>Joel Dennerley<\/strong>, who appeared in his first match of the tournament and ended up saving three German penalty attempts in the shootout\u2014the difference between a third-place match against the always-dangerous Serbs and a title match against upstart Hungary.<\/p>\n<p>A little less than two months after a dismal showing at the 2018 European Championships, a young Hungarian squad appear to have found their way against a Serbian team that contained four players from the team that beat them 8-5 in Barcelona.<\/p>\n<p>Saturday was a different story entirely; it\u2019s possible that the Serbs, despite being a consistent finalist the past five years, finally gave way to destiny and fatigue\u2014and an inspired Hungarian effort which saw <strong>Bence Batori<\/strong> (3 goals) extinguish Serbian coach <strong>Dejan Savic\u2019s<\/strong> hopes for yet another title.<\/p>\n<p>The Serbians had one final chance to tie, and this was an example of where the new rules make perfect sense. Goalie <strong>Dimitrije Risticevic<\/strong>, now allowed to roam from beyond midfield, became a seventh attacker and\u2014likely because he was in unfamiliar waters\u2014shot wide of the goal, preserving the Hungarian\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s difficult to know if it\u2019s fatigue or rule adjustments\u2014due to the imposition of a set of new rules as well as interpretations of existing guidelines there has been periodic confusion among all parties, including the spectators. What is known is that on consecutive days the Serbia and Croatia\u2014the world\u2019s two best teams\u2014have been beaten before advancing to a championship final. How long has it been since that occurred?<\/p>\n<p>The perhaps unwanted beneficiary of this turn of polo events is the United States. Still on the outside looking in when it comes to qualifying for the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Team USA kept their hopes alive with a gripping 11-10 win over a team that has emerged as a dangerous rival: Japan. After <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/ghosts-of-futures-past-us-mens-water-polo-falls-to-japan-in-fina-world-league-quarterfinals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dashing the Americans\u2019 hopes<\/a> of a top four finish at the FINA World Water Polo League Super Final last June in Budapest, the Japanese stood between Head Coach <strong>Dejan Udovicic\u2019s<\/strong> squad and a fifth place game which might deliver what he seeks: a FINA World Championship spot. Hungary has already booked their punched their ticket to Korea.<\/p>\n<p>Despite what the Americans might think of a team that hadn\u2019t been to the Olympic in 32 years before qualifying for the 2016 Rio Games, the Japanese believe they have achieved parity with their hemisphere foe\u2014and are working to find a way to surpass them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs you know in the World League Intercontinental Cup, we are always together with the U.S.,\u201d Japan&#8217;s Head Coach <strong>Yoji Omoto<\/strong> said in an interview yesterday. \u201cAnd the U.S. always used to be the best at the Intercontinental, but we beat them in Budapest last year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe think we have reached the U.S. level, and sometimes we can beat them,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>In yet what has become the best rivalry in the sport, the two teams battled in the water, with the U.S. brute strength\u2014and scoring capability of <strong>Alex Bowen<\/strong> (5 goals) and <strong>Luca Cupido<\/strong> (2 goals)\u2014alternating with the fierce counterattacks of <strong>Sei Adachi<\/strong> (5 goals) and <strong>Keigo Okawa<\/strong> (3 goals). The difference today came down to emotion; seeking to get a monkey off their back against the pesky Japanese, McQuin Baron (15 saves) was strong in goal and the Americans got a brilliant defensive effort from <strong>Alex Roelse<\/strong>, who muscled the smaller Japanese around the pool, and <strong>Ben Hallock<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_329369\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-329369\" data-attachment-id=\"329369\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/in-fina-world-cup-semis-australia-beats-cinderella-germany-will-play-hungary-in-first-ever-world-cup-final\/us-circle-sep18\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"3662,1625\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 8 Plus&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1536859772&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;6.6&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"us-circle-sep18\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;us-circle-sep18&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Photo Courtesy: Lori Verdegaal&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18-700x500.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18-1024x454.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-329369 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18-1024x454.jpg\" alt=\"us-circle-sep18\" width=\"1024\" height=\"454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18-1024x454.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18-533x237.jpg 533w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18-280x124.jpg 280w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18-150x67.jpg 150w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/us-circle-sep18-500x222.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-329369\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. fired up! Photo Courtesy: Lori Verdegaal<\/p><\/div>\n<p>After Bowen scored his second goal of the period to give the U.S. a two-goal lead, Baron and his defenders were able to hold off their opponents to advance to a fifth place match against Croatia. The two sides have meet many times before, with the Croatian\u2019s winning almost every time it counts. The one exceptions is recent; at the FINA Super Final the U.S. played a gritty match in beating Croatia 12-11 on the strength of five goals from Bowen.<\/p>\n<p>It will take a similarly heroic effort from the Americans to beat the Croats, capture fifth and book a spot in the 2019 FINA Worlds. It\u2019s not impossible but\u2014with Head Coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/on-the-record-with-ivica-tukac-croatia-mens-water-polo-head-coach\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ivica Tucak<\/strong><\/a> having at his disposal nine of his starters from last year\u2019s World Championship squad, it may be a lot to ask of a young U.S. squad.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of how Sunday\u2019s action plays out, the clear winner remains the Germans. A few weeks from now their profession teams will open LEN Championship League play knowing that they\u2019re ready to compete with the world\u2019s best.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We will take it step-by-step,&#8221; Stamm said. &#8220;There&#8217;s an Olympic qualification tournament, there&#8217;s a European Championship before&#8230; but I&#8217;m happy I have a good, fighting team.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Michael Randazzo, Swimming World Contributor BERLIN, Germany. At Europasportpark a burgeoning dream of German polo success took a major hit Saturday with a shootout loss to Australia. The 11-10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4875,"featured_media":329354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[27250,47736,47734,70911,54133,4256,27241,70934,70933,71085,70905,70908,62597,62761,61882,62650,42084,42639,60192,70837,42722,3613,67501],"class_list":["post-329351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-alex-bowen","tag-alex-roelse","tag-ben-hallock","tag-bence-batori","tag-croatia-water-polo","tag-dejan-savic","tag-dejan-udovicic","tag-dimitrije-risticevic","tag-europasportpark","tag-fina-mens-world-water-polo-cup-2018","tag-german-water-polo","tag-haggen-stamm","tag-hungary-water-polo","tag-ivica-tucak","tag-joel-dennerley","tag-keigo-okawa","tag-luca-cupido","tag-mcquin-baron","tag-michael-randazzo","tag-sei-adachi","tag-serbia-water-polo","tag-usa-water-polo","tag-yoji-omoto"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>In FINA Water Polo Semis, Australia Beats Cinderella Germany, Will Play Hungary in First-Ever World Cup Final - Swimming World<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The dream of German polo success took a major hit with a 11-10 loss to Australia ended a thrilling run to the FINA Men\u2019s Water Polo World Cup 2018 title match\u00a0 \u00a0\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/in-fina-world-cup-semis-australia-beats-cinderella-germany-will-play-hungary-in-first-ever-world-cup-final\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"In FINA Water Polo Semis, 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