Serbia sweep aside Montenegro at Fina water polo finals in Dubai

DUBAI // With the World Cup in Brazil in full swing, it is no surprise that a water polo match would not get quite so much attention.

Yesterday, Serbia v Montenegro, part of the Fina World Water Polo League Men’s Super Final, was not one for the masses.

But for the players and hardcore fans at Hamdan Sports Complex, it is a sport that holds a special place in their affections.

The two countries, between 1992 and 2006, used to be one entity in a region where water polo’s popularity rivals, if not football, then other sports, such as basketball. International derbies are rarely ever just about sports.

Both came in on the back of wins the previous day, Serbia overcoming China 21-9 and Montenegro beating Brazil 15-5.

Since the two countries split eight years ago, Serbia in particular have excelled, taking Olympic bronze in 2008 and two years ago in London, World Championships gold in 2009 and silver in 2011, World Cup gold in 2010, and five World League titles between 2007 and 2013.

It is a formidable roll call, and with the majority of the 2012 Olympic team and the 2013 World Championship team lining up in Dubai, Serbia were expected to do well yesterday. They did in some style.

A crowd of only a couple of hundred was sprinkled with several Serbia flags and a lone Montenegrin one. Even in the short time since the two countries split, a rivalry had developed between them.

But in the water yesterday, there was little competition at all. Serbia controlled a surprisingly low-key affair and led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Perhaps the format of the competition, which ensures that all eight teams taking part in the group stage advance to the quarter-finals, contributed. Hard as Montenegro tried, they just could not find a way past the wall of Serbian defence. At half time, the holders led 5-0. This was over as a contest.

That turned to 10-1 at the end of the third quarter and 15-4 at full time.

“Nobody expected this result. We played very well in defence and it was a great game for us,” Serbia coach Dejan Savic said. “It’s a very special game for us, because obviously, we have the traditional [rivalry] between us, we used to be a united country.”

One of Serbia’s rising young stars was less concerned about history, and more about the future.

“A few years before, I cared more about playing against [Montenegro], but now I don’t,” Dusan Mandic said. “There is no difference between them and anyone else.”

Mandic tormented the Montenegrin team, scoring five times, but echoed his coach’s sentiments about the victory being built on defence.

“I really don’t care about the goals,” he said. “The good thing that for almost three quarters we didn’t concede any goals.

“I’m not surprised by [the ease] of victory, but I am surprised by how well we played in defence. That was the most important thing.”

Today, Serbia play Brazil while Montenegro take on China. They may meet each other again in Dubai, and more challenges await during the next few months.

“Both teams are preparing for the European Championship coming up,” Savic said, looking ahead to Budapest in July. “The key for this victory was our defence. Montenegro kept trying different things, but nothing could work.”

Despite the margin of defeat, Montenegro are not getting too downhearted just yet.

“We are a very young team and we expected it to be a tough match,” Montenegrin standout Vjekoslav Paskovic said. “What’s important is to get experience from this competition.

“There’s very little to take away from today’s match, but we didn’t want to lose too much energy, and now we’re looking towards the match against China.”

On the back of a sweeping win over their nearest neighbours, Serbia can afford to look a few days ahead, perhaps even to the final, with confidence.

“I hope we keep improving,” Mandic said. “If we do what the coach tells us to do, I think there is no opponent that can match us.”

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