Serbia incredulously shooting for third successive Olympic gold

State Of The Play

The La Defense Arena will be rocking on Sunday when water polo wraps up in time for the Closing Ceremony.

And the main reason will be Serbia’s urgent desire to become the second men’s team and third overall to claim three consecutive gold medals this century behind Hungary (2000, 2004, 2008) and USA women (2012, 2016 and 2020). Players insist the repeat is not high on their agenda as this is a new team with many going for their first gold medal.

Serbia came from 2-1 down and led 6-4 at halftime and 8-6 at the final break to end its pathway to the final. Croatia shrugged off three tied scores to lead 7-5 at halftime and 9-7 at the final break, relying on its splendid defence in the last eight minutes to survive. To have two teams who finished fourth in their groups emerge to the final shows the closeness and tenacity of the leading nations.

In the classification 5-8 semifinals, Spain ruptured Italy 11-9 and Greece dispatched giant-killer Australia 15-9.

Italian Protest

Italy launched a protest on officialdom during the playing of the national anthems. The players turned their backs on the officials’ bench in the national anthems in what was probably a rebuke for Francesco Condemi’s violence foul in the semifinals, which was overturned on appeal. The action was an accident during a shooting motion, but the red card sealed Italy’s fate in the competition. The protest was likened to the 1968 Black Power salutes during the 800m track medal ceremony and this incident has been sent to to World Aquatics' Integrity Unit for further investigation.

DAY 14 MATCHES

Round 1-4 Semifinal

Match 37, SERBIA 10 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 6 (2-2,4-2, 2-2, 2-0) 

Serbia has lost twice in Paris, yet will play for yet another gold medal on Sunday. At least, Serbia will go to the medal podium for the fourth successive games, winning the last two gold medals and two bronzes before that. It was a lacklustre match, it must be said, with Serbia coming good in the second quarter and maintaining that power and dedication until the end. Serbia won without goals from the tournament’s highest scorer Dusan Mandic.

USA had to play without Johnny Hooper who was red-carded in the clash with Australia. Hooper normally wins the swim-offs and had five goals to his name. His tenacity and vitality was sadly missed. USA will not add to its one gold, four silver medals and three bronzes. USA is coached by Dejan Udovicic, the much-decorated Serbian coach of yesteryear.

USA made the early play with Marko Vavic opening on extra, followed by Serbian captain Nikola Jaksic. Ryder Dodd (18) made it three extra-man goals in succession when he converted from deep left. Sava Randelovic, a dual gold medallist, pulled the trigger from the top with the quickest of shots for 2-2 at 1:28, which became the quarter-time score. There was more activity in the second quarter with brothers Petar Jaksic and Nikola Jaksic scoring to double the margin. Petar Jaksic scored on extra off the left-post position. Accepting a near-post pass for his second goal in Paris. Nikola Jaksic converted extra from right-hand catch. Luca Cupido sat up and blasted from the top for 4-3; Nikola Dedovic needed VAR to confirm his goal on double extra after a goalmouth melee; USA skipper Ben Hallock dragged down a cross pass to the right post on extra and Dedovic scored from the top for 6-4 to finish the first-half scoring.

Dedovic struck first in the third period, on extra from five metres. Vavic responded, also on extra and a was very happy man with his goal. Nemanja Vico scored his sixth goal in his first Olympics, at centre forward. Alex Bowen whipped a quick shot from the left-hand catch off a cross pass on extra, finding the bottom right. At 4:12, VAR was needed to show that Serbia had called a timeout, which it didn’t take, but was nonetheless charged against Serbia. USA went to a timeout and Bowen’s shot was saved. Serbia had the two-goal lead at the last break.

Dedovic gained his fourth to start the final period, tapping in a loose ball that Nemanja Ubovic was trying to score when he was attacked from behind. It could have been a penalty call. Ubovic claimed the goal but, in fact, it was Dedovic who plundered the score with the tap over the line. It was 9-6 at 6:30 and head coach Uros Stevanovic was yellow carded. He was lucky not to have gained one the attack before. Nikola Jaksic (27) celebrated long and hard after his third goal from right-hand catch on extra for 10-6 as the dream became more vivid. Hallock had a marvellous opportunity at 2:38 when he dragged back the ball, but it hit the crossbar and bounced out. USA called a timeout at 2:09 , gained a kickout and Hannes Daube’s shot hit the goalkeeper. On counter, Daube bounced the ball over the crossbar and Serbia controlled the ball with no real intent, not even trying to shoot when a man up. Serbia had made it to the gold-medal final after finishing fourth in its group.

Match Heroes
Dedovic claimed four goals for Serbia to give him 10 in Paris. Nikola Jaksic added three more for a tally of 10, as well. Radoslav Filipovic made 10 saves for the Serbians. Vavic scored twice for USA and goalkeeper Adrian Weinberg had his best match with 15 saves.

Turning Point
Serbia coming from 2-1 down to 7-4 ahead by early in the third quarter.

Stats Don’t Lie
Serbia converted seven from 10 on extra and defended a magnificent 11 from 16. Serbia had the added bonus of three more shots than USA.

Bottom Line
Serbia is the reigning champion, two losses or not. When it comes to the big matches, the big men come through. It was not USA’s night. The fire was not there as much as previous matches. Perhaps beating Australia in a sudden-death penalty shootout drained the team?

What They Said

Nikola JAKSIC (SRB) — Captain/Three Goals

On being one of the top two goal-scorers in the match, along with Nikolas Dedovic:
"Today was the night of the Nikolas. Hopefully it gets even better in two days."

On the win:
“We were playing as a team, and I am so proud of my team-mates after everything we've been through in the past three years. Every single one of them was amazing – first to the last – and we deservedly won this game."

On whether he can feel the team progressing with each match:
“Definitely, as you saw in the water, but we have one more game left. We forget this game tonight. We didn't come here to be second, we came here to win it. We still haven't done what we came for, which is to win it, not defend it, because this is a new team. We want to win the gold medal game — it doesn't matter who it is against. We're definitely going to give everything we have, even more than in any previous game we've had during this tournament.”

Nemanja UBOVIC (SRB) — Athlete

On the team’s excellent man-up attack and man-down defence against USA:
“We are raising our game, our performances, and I think the best one is going to come in the last one (the final). In games like this, man-up, man-down will probably decide the game. We were focused, we were prepared. Our coaches did some really good scouting and that helped us to be ready for their actions.

“We defended really well, and the defence helped us to be patient in attack. We were able to keep scoring goals and control the game. We helped each other. It doesn't matter who scored; it's just important that the team wins. We trust each other. We know the goals were going to come, we just needed to be patient.”

On Serbia reaching its third successive Olympic Games men's water polo final:
“It's the first final for me, but for some others it'll be their second or third. All together, we're going to chase our dreams and I hope we are going to make it.”

Ben HALLOCK (USA) — Captain

On the match:
"No matter what (happens in Sunday's bronze-medal match), the result in this tournament's better than we've had in a long time. But we're not going to be happy with fourth. We’re going to have to digest the emotions of today first. But we didn't play good enough to win today."

On Sunday's bronze-medal match:
"We got a lot of homework to do on the loser of Croatia and Hungary (in the other semifinal). We're going to be excited. But first, you got to take a step back and recognise that you lost and take those emotions and be able to put them away in time for the game in two days."

Alex OBERT (USA) — Athlete

On the match:
"We couldn't finish. That's what it came down to. We couldn't put the ball in the back of the net, we're just a little bit short with it. They got a couple of good bounces."

On the bronze-medal match on Sunday:
"That's the only thing you can do. That's the only thing we're here to do right now, is to regroup and take home some hardware and do what we came here to do."

On the Olympic Games:
"It's the most special tournament in the world. It's where the spotlight is. We only have a couple of times we're in the spotlight when we get a fraction of the world's eyes. I'll leave the 2028 thoughts for a couple of days, but right now, it's quick to mourn and take the bronze-medal match and take home some hardware so we can really look at our family proudly and say, 'Hey come to LA (Los Angeles 2028), we're coming back’."

Match 38, HUNGARY 8 CROATIA 9 (3-3, 2-4, 2-2, 1-0)

Croatia is just one win away from emulating its 2012 countrymen and ascend the top step of the dais. For nine-time champion Hungary, the desire was there for a 10^th gold, but now has to settle for a crack at a fifth bronze medal. It was the battle of the world champions with Croatia succeeding in Doha this year and Hungary taking home the title in Fukuoka last year. Croatia will now face double champion Serbia and rekindle memories of 2016 when they last clashed in the final match. Today it was a celebration thanks to one player in the field and the other in the goal creating some magic.

Croatia scored first through Maro Jokovic with a statement goal from the top, only for Hungary to go three straight with Marton Vamos from the top and Gergo Fekete on counter. Then the Loren Fatovic factor entered the equation, scoring twice from the deep left wing, the first on extra. It was Marko Bijac’s turn to shine in goal as he saved a Vamos penalty shot. However, the rebound, favoured Vamos and he scored for 4-3. Fatovic replied on penalty and Denes Varga squirrelled in a shot from the top, seemingly pushing it after several baulks, completely flummoxing the defence. When you have a gold and bronze from five Olympics, you can do these things. Fatovic reacted and scored on extra for his fourth and Marko Zuvela rocketed in a shot from the top for 6-5. Both coaches gained a yellow card at this time. Fatovic went to five on extra and Croatia was 7-5 up at halftime.

Daniel Angyal and Luka Bukic traded extra-man goals. Krisztian Manhercz faced Bijac from the penalty line and squeezed it right of the post — penalty blemish No 2. Captain Szilard Jansik, who scored Hungary’s first goal, found the top left at 2:00. Bukic regained the two-goal margin and Vamos was given the penalty attempt at 0:25, which found the right hand of Bijac — penalty blemish No 3.

Adam Nagy clawed one back nearly halfway through the final period, on extra. Both teams went to a timeout seeking a scoring ploy with no joy and come the final action, Gergo Zalanki speared the ball high over the crossbar and Croatia was through to the final.

Match Heroes
Fatovic with his five goals (20 for the tournament and third highest) and Bukic with two for Croatia. Bijac plucked 10 saves. Vamos and Jansik netted twice for Hungary and Soma Vogel took in nine balls from the goal.

Turning Point
Going from 5-5 to 7-5 gave Croatia a taste for staying ahead.

Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia scored just four from 12 on extra while Hungary did the better with five from 11. It was the penalty shots that killed Hungary’s chances, having two stopped and one hitting the wood. Croatia put away its solo effort. Croatia shot 29 times to 26.

Bottom Line
Fatovic was the key on attack and Bijac was the doorstopper. Those two alone made havoc for Hungary.

What They Said

Marko BIJAC (CRO) — Captain/Goalkeeper

On the win:
“All of our players were really amazing today. We fight until the last second. We left everything we had in the pool. In the final we will do everything to win. The whole team showed huge character, as it was really tough against Hungary.

“They are an amazing team with so many good individuals, but our team spirit and our energy gave us this result. We were very tough in our defence; we didn't allow any easy shots to the Hungarians. I believe our defence was the key to our victory."

On reaching its third major water polo final this year (silver at the European championships, gold at the world championships):
"We are the best when it's most important. I would say this team has a really, really strong character. We never let down (our guard). We always fight till the last moment, like we showed here."

On being a silver medallist at Rio 2016 and aiming to go one better at Paris 2024:
"Every game here falls (brings) big pressure. We are concentrated, focused on ourselves. We will try to prepare the best we can for the final. Today was a really good game, but there were also some mistakes. We will analyse this game really well and (figure out) how to improve in the final. Will try to do our best to win the gold."

Loren FATOVIC (CRO) — Five Goals

On the performance of Croatia goalkeeper Marko BIJAC:
“The biggest difference, for sure, was BIJAC. We played very good in defence. We were in some problems in the last quarter, but when you have BIJAC playing in goal like that, it makes it much easier to win.”

On reaching its third major water polo final this year:
“It's the perfect year for us. But we don't want to stop here; we want to win this one last game (the final) and make it incredible. This is something that a lot of teams didn't achieve in all the history. We achieve it in eight months. It's something incredible.”

On facing Serbia in the final:
“They are an excellent team. Everybody has seen how good they are. We were fourth in the group, they were fourth also, so a lot of people didn't give us a chance to be in the final. But we've both shown how good our nations are in water polo.”

Jerko MARINIC KRAGIC (CRO) — Athlete

On reaching its third major water polo final this year:
“This year is more than special for us to play three finals in one year. I don't think it will ever happen again for anyone. We have energy, a great team. We have character. We have that mental strength to play all of these games, even now, in the Olympic Games after this harder path we chose after the loss against USA. We’ve shown that the mental strength is very important and hopefully we'll finish this Olympic Games in the best way possible.

On the performance of goalkeeper, Marko BIJAC:
“He's the best goalkeeper in the world, there's no question about that. I’m sure he will stay in this level. He's the best. Having him goal for us is a dream come true.”

Zsolt VARGA (HUN) — Head Coach

On his team's defeat:
"At the very beginning, in the first quarter, we played so well. Then we started a little bit slow and made some errors, some mistakes. In games like this, it's always the team that makes less mistakes that wins. That was (the case) today."

On Croatian goalkeeper Marko Bijac’s performance:
"He's one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We knew his defence, the basics of the base of his defence, always makes him a good goalkeeper."

On his team's bronze-medal match against USA:
"We want to win because it's so important for us. We will now have to calm down and relax a little bit and then take the last chance for a medal."

Krisztian MANHERCZ (HUN) — Athlete

On the loss:
"We had a lot of chances. We missed almost all of them. We really had the chances to win this game, or at least get a draw. But this is water polo. If you make too many mistakes, miss all the penalties, then this is what happens. It was a big fight. We started the game in a good way, we were leading 3-1, but then we fell behind in the second and we needed to run after the result. We wanted to win the 10th (Olympic gold) medal, but we still want to win a medal."

Round 5-8 Semifinal

Match 35, GREECE 15 AUSTRALIA 9 (3-1, 2-2, 5-3, 5-3)

Greece made sure of the fifth-place final, something it was last in back in 2016 when it lost to Hungary. Greece was never equalled or headed as the Aussie Sharks attempted to play catch-up against a strong, more professional team. Australia has not been in the top eight since London 2012 when it finished seventh with victory over USA.

Greece was 3-1 up at the quarter and 5-3 at halftime with six different scorers and four coming from extra-man attack. The big shot of the second quarter was Konstantinos Kakaris’ scoop shot from two metres for 4-2. It was his second goal after the opening strike.

Greece ramped up in the third quarter with Stylianos Argyropoulos converting a penalty foul and Milos Maksimovic replying with a tip in off the left-post position on action. Dimitrios Skoumpakis shot and scored from top left and captain Ioannis Fountoulis, in his fifth Olympic Games, converted extra after a timeout. Australia tried the timeout ploy to no effect, however, Maksimovic gained the fifth goal (14^th in Paris) from deep left. Kakaris, with his third, quickly scored on extra off a cross pass and centre. Konstantinos Genidounias made it 10-5 and Jacob Mercep scored from deep left on extra for 10-6 at the final break.

The fourth period was just as active with Skoumpakis and Kakaris bracketing a Matthew Byrnes penalty goal to embellish the scoreline to 12-7. The Aussie timeout worked with Luke Pavillard netting his 13^th goal from deep right on extra. Skoumpakis and co-captain Nathan Power, off a centre-forward drive, swapped goals with Fountoulis powering in a penalty shot and Argyropoulos finishing all scoring at 13 seconds for a comfortable 15-9 victory.

Match Heroes
Kakaris with his four goals and three to Skoumpakis for Greece. Maksimovic, Power and Byrnes with two each for Australia.

Turning Point
Turning 6-4 into 10-5 broke the back of the Aussies.

Stats Don’t Lie
Greece converted four from eight on extra and Australia a commendable five from nine. Greece had 30 shots to 22.

Bottom Line
Greece has the more experience of the big time. Australia is learning how to beat top teams and has seen what it takes to beat professional teams while being largely amateur.

What They Said

Tim HAMILL (AUS) — Head Coach

On his female counterpart, Bec Rippon and the Aussie Stingers women's water polo team going for gold on Saturday:
"The girls know how big the support is for them here in Paris, but also at home. And, like everybody else, I will be cheering them on and hoping for a famous result for the country. Bec has done a wonderful job with the team in a short amount of time, and I wish her nothing but the best. They certainly don't need a message from me, but what I will say is, congratulations on what they have achieved."

On the impact of a potential gold medal at Paris 2024 on water polo in Australia:
"We saw what the gold medal did after Sydney 2000 for the sport back in Australia, and so even though we (the men's team) haven't finished the campaign how we would have liked, it has been successful for us. We are seeing some amazing results.

"We are hearing reports back home that there's been a big uptick for water polo in terms of participation, so we are hoping that this is a real kick forward for our sport back in Australia. We are starting to get a lot more support, which is what we desperately need."

Match 36, ITALY 9 SPAIN 11 (0-4, 3-2, 3-3, 3-2)

Spain heads off to the classification final for fifth with a two-goal victory built on a 4-0 opening quarter and 5-0 lead halfway through the second quarter. At 6-1 down, Italy won the remainder of the match 8-5. There was lethargy in the Italian camp early on and Spain’s firepower was limited as two of its leading players were fouled out of the match wither side of the final break.

The Italians turned their backs on the officials’ bench in the national anthems in what was probably a rebuke for Francesco Condemi’s violence foul in the semifinals, which was overturned on appeal. The action was an accident during a shooting motion, but the red card sealed Italy’s fate in the competition.

Spain blasted out of the starting gates with five unanswered goals with the first Italian dent being made by Matteo Iocchi Gratta at 3:53 in the second quarter. Until then, Spain ruled the roost with Alvaro Granados scoring a pair in the opening period and backed up by Marc Larumbe and Martin Famera. Larumbe scored an identical goal from the right-post position on action almost apologetically scoring, he was so free. Granados’ shots were scored with ease, as well. In fact, he was allowed to score a third for 6-1, this time on extra from the top left. Italy seemed to awaken with Tomasso Gianazza from centre forward and Andrea Fondelli with the most brilliant of finishes from a equally fantastic 25m angled pass on the hand to score on counter from the deep left, which became the halftime score — 6-3. The pass was possibly fired from Gonzalo Echenique.

Italian captain Francesco di Fulvio converted extra for Italy to start the third period and Echenique, the former Argentine and Spanish player, scored with his left arm from the deep right, almost touching the back rope.

(Ed: Few players have represented three countries since the first person probably being Tomaz Lasic, the Yugoslavia/Slovenian/Australian international who just missed the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Andrei Kovalenko, a bronze medallist with the CIS in Barcelona in 1992/his native Ukraine in Atlanta 1996 and with Australia in Sydney 2000).

Alberto Munarriz addressed the slide, scoring from the top into the bottom right, followed by a drive to centre forward by Miguel de Toro, slamming in the ball for 8-5. Nicholas Presciutti scored on extra, but more importantly, it was because Granados had gained his third major foul. Felipe Perrone snapped up a loose pass and sped the ball past Gianmarco Nicosia from wide left on the buzzer for 9-6.

Iocchi Gratta converted a penalty foul awarded against Bernat Sanahuja — his third — meaning two top shooters were sidelined. Italy took a timeout and Echenique converted the play from left-hand catch while five-time Olympian Perrone scored on extra from the top for 10-8 at 4:17. Perrone collected his 11^th goal in Paris on counter and Lorenzo Bruni responded on the next attack for 11-9 at 2:35. The match petered out as a spectacle with Spain finishing atop for its sixth victory from seven matches.

Match Heroes
Unai Aguirre with 13 saves in the Spanish goal. Granados and Perrone notched three each and Larumbe two for Spain. Echenique and Iocchi Gratta pocketed two each for Italy and Nicosia had an excellent run in goal with nine saves, one off his forehead.

Turning Point
That 6-1 start, then Italy’s 4-0 run either side of the halftime break.

Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams scored four from nine on extra with Italy converting the only penalty. Spain had 33 shots to 30.

Bottom Line
No medals for these two, but pride on the line. Spain wanted it more, as the opening salvo indicated. Spain is now chasing fifth place after fourth in Tokyo 2020 and Italy, funnily enough is after the same placing from Tokyo — seventh.

Day 15 Schedule

Classification 7-8
Match 39. 19:35. Australia v Italy

Day 16 Schedule

Classification 5-6
Match 40. 09:00. Greece v Spain

Classification 3-4 (Bronze Medal)
Match 41. 10:35. United States of America v Hungary

Classification 1-2 (Gold Medal)
Match 42. 14:00. Serbia v Croatia