Classification 1-8 Quarter-finals — Budapest

GREECE 16 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11

Greece has the recent history, let alone the power shooters who snap goals off at will. USA was big and strong and could shoot, but hesitated at times and did not have the spontaneity of the awesome Greeks. There was nothing between the teams in the first half, turning at 7-7. However, USA found the Greek defence too good and could not penetrate in the third. By this time, Greece had marched onward to 10-7 and then 12-7 soon after the fourth quarter started. USA drowned the drought, so to speak, when Hannes Daube drilled his third, this time from the right-hand-catch position, cross cage for 12-8 at 6:15 — nearly 12 minutes since the previous USA goal. Greece responded quickly and the margin was again five. Goals were traded to 15-10, after which Alex Bowen was red-carded for showing the referee what he thought happened with his exclusion foul. An earlier red card was distributed to Greek assistant coach, Anastasios Schizas. USA captain Ben Hallock made it a four-goal difference and a steal and counter in the last minute, gave Angelos Vlachopoulos his third goal and pushed the margin back to five. Greece had arrived at the top four.

Match heroes
Stylianos Agryropoulos was perfect with his five goals — not missing any shot. He was justifiably named player of the match. Emmanouil Zerdevas stopped a Bowen penalty attempt at 2-1.

Turning point
Coming out blazing in the second half after the break. Greece fired in five goals and the match was virtually over at 12-7.

Stats don’t Lie
Greece slotted six from eight on extra-man attack and USA four from 10. Greece had five more shots. All four goalkeepers made saves with USA’s Drew Holland topping the quartet with seven.

Bottom line
Greece belongs on the top tier of world water polo and showed it here. The benefit of having a large number of the team playing for the same club with the same coach at both levels, shows through in spades. USA toiled hard, but missed some vital chances and could not play at full tilt for the whole match.

What they said
Theodoros Vlachos (GRE) — Head Coach
“The key was the defence. We focused on some of their players and we made a good performance. The teams know each other as we had joint practices together in the last two years. I believe that my team has more quality and we showed it in the second half, when we were clearly better than our rival. We have already qualified for the top four; we want to win a medal, the first step will be the next game when we play for the final. We have different emotions now, we don’t have the pressure, we are in the semi-final. Of course, we are not satisfied with this, we try to do our best, step by step till the end.”
Stylianos Argyropoulos (GRE) — Five Goals
“We stayed focused during the whole game and played a good defence, and in the attack we found solutions. I think Hungary can be tougher for us, the stadium will be full. Yeah, I may face some future team-mates; that’s life, that’s sport. I’m looking forward to that.”
Dejan Udovicic (USA) — Head Coach
“We just put ourself on the top level for only three quarters. We gave them some easy goals and we couldn’t score goals on six on five; that was the changing momentum. We changed the type of defence two or three times to get the rhythm, but it is not an accident that Greece finished second in Tokyo. We try to win every game, so it is the plan for the next one, also.”
Drew Holland (USA) — Goalkeeper
“We were fully prepared, but at the start they punched us in the mouth a little bit. We fought back and got a 7-7 draw at halftime. Unfortunately, we couldn't keep it together defensively; their counter-attacks got to us. At the end of the day, we didn't have the answer in the second half.”

 

SERBIA 12 CROATIA 14

 Serbia was fifth in Gwangju three years ago and the best it can finish in Budapest is also fifth, thanks to Croatia. The rivalry between the teams reached fever pitch at Margaret Island on Wednesday afternoon as the almost invincibility of the Serbians was dented as Croatia took the game to its opponent and almost rubbed it in the face. It was 1-1 at the quarter, then drew two, three, four in the second quarter with Croatia always the aggressor and Serbia the chaser for the draws. It was the same in the early part of the third as Serbia levelled at five. Looking happy and healthy. However, Croatia nailed three straight for 8-5. In the 10-goal frenzy through the third period, neither team was dominant, but Croatia took that 10-9 advantage to the final eight minutes. Serbia was down, but not out. Croatia went two up at 11-9 and 12-10 and then doubled up with Luka Bukic dragging down a cross pass on the two-metre line for a three-goal advantage. This seemed to be the death knell for Serbia. However, there was still 4:45 on the clock. Marko Radulovic breathed life into Serbia with a goal at 2:19 but Loren Fatovic scored his only, and critical, goal with a six-metre lob at 1:55. Dusan Mandic who scored a triple in the third, then smashed (with a capital S) a six-metre shot at 1:04 for 14-12. Still time. But, NO. Croatia deserved the win and shut out Serbia, to take an historic victory.

Match heroes
Marko Zuvela was the go-to man when it counted. His second and third goals were the most important, early in the final quarter, nudging his team two goals ahead each time. Mandic, for sure, was the best in pool with his four goals and murderous intent at scoring, at any cost. Pity his team did not support him more. Toni Popadic was on fire early in the match and finished with 12 saves. Josip Vrlic is emerging as the best centre forward in the tournament and scored twice and drew five ejections. He was spotted and named Player of the Match.

Turning point
Those three goals in the third period were crucial to the victory and gave the Croatians the impetus to keep attacking the Serbian goal.

Stats don’t lie
Not much difference in the extra-man stats with Serbia converting six from 15 and Croatia going seven from 13. But it was Popadic who produced the difference and helped demoralise the Serbian strikers.

Bottom line
Croatia proved it deserves a seat at the highest table. Serbia showed that having seven of its superstars retire at the same time, unsettles the rhythm of the national team programme, but that these types of matches will be enough strengthening to cope with the European Championships later in the year and return to the FINA World Championships in Fukuoka next year with a more cohesive team. For now, it’s Croatia’s day.

What they said
Ivica Tucak (CRO) — Head Coach
“Our very good game was the key to the victory, we simply delivered brilliant performance in both attack and defence. It was a sharp match, but we have to quickly forget it and look ahead. We want to achieve a lot in these world championships.”
Dejan Popadic (CRO) — Goalkeeper
“Our defence made the difference; we played as a team from the beginning till the end. We deserved the victory. Nobody told us that we were favourites for the medals, but here we are in the semifinals again, and I congratulate my mates.”
Rino Buric (CRO) — Athlete
“I am really happy about that result; we won against such a good team. Till the end we didn't know who would win, but in the last quarter we took the lead and it was enough to win the match. We have to prepare well, whether we play against Spain or Montenegro.”
Dejan Savic (SRB) — Head Coach
“It was a great match — congratulations to the Croatian national team — they were much better in the six-on-five situations. We knew that this match would be decided in this part. We conceded very cheap goals. We were unable to reconcile our attack with our defence.”
Strahinja Rasovic (SRB) — Goal Scorer
“I cannot be happy after this match. Croatia was better today and was on the winning track from the first moment. We came back three-four times, but we never scored the goal to tie the result. Thanks to the fans who came here today.”