Serbia beat France with an excellent game and secured the Olympic quarter-finals

Serbia qualified for the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games in Paris. In the fourth round, Uroš Stevanović's team convincingly defeated the fourth-placed team from this year's World Cup, France, 15:8 (4:2, 4:2, 4:2, 3:2) strong>

Finally, the Serbian players showed themselves in the right light. After a narrow triumph over Japan (16:15) and a big disappointment against Australia (3:8), hope was awakened by a solid performance in the defeat against Spain. Today, the "dolphins" played one of the best games in the last year and a half since Stevanović was on the bench

All Serbian players in the field entered the list of scorers, with a 50% success rate (15/30). The defense did its job properly. Our goalkeeper Radoslav Filipović stood out with 11 saves. France's shot was 8/32.

Our team secured at least fourth place, it is certain that behind it will be the hosts France and Japan, who finish the tournament after the fifth round. In the last round, Serbia will play Hungary. Today, the Hungarians were defeated by the sensation of the tournament, Australia, so the winner of the duel between Serbia and Hungary will enter the quarterfinals from third place, and the loser from fourth place. Spain secured the top position, and Australia secured the second position.

For the first time in the tournament, Serbia dictated the pace from the beginning and played in the same style until the end. The defense was up to the task this time. Our selection led by 2:0 until the fifth minute, while the hosts found the net for the first time in the seventh minute (Bue). As many as three goals were scored in the last 50 seconds of the first quarter. Vico scored for 3:1. The first star of the French team, Vernu, who was guarded very well by our water polo players today, fought back. Five seconds before the first break, Strahinja Rašović returned a two-goal advantage from distance (4:2).

At the beginning of the second half, Strahinja Rašović used a five-pointer for 5:2. For the first time in the tournament, Serbia gained a three-goal lead. That score remained on the scoreboard for a long time, and in the last three minutes, Serbia's cannonade continued, but the French were also accurate. Petar Jakšić, Mandić and Drašović guessed. Stevanović's team had an advantage of 8:3, but Marzuki closed the quarter with a goal scored 14 seconds before the end.

France scored two goals after the break in the first two minutes of the second half (Bodega from the extra player and Cruzia from the penalty box) for 6:8 and they hoped that they could get back into the match. But Serbian players quickly extinguished their hopes. Jakšić responded immediately, followed by Viktor Rašović. Two goals by center Nemanja Ubović followed, the first with a player more after a double pass with Drašović, and then from a counterattack – 12:6. Serbia already had a rival "in hand". The Serbian players preserved the advantage with a good defense, France was in a knockdown, they just had to finish the job.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, goalkeeper Filipović, who was very good today, was replaced by Mišović, who made three saves in eight minutes. In the first attack of our team in this section, Dedović used the player more for 13:6, and our team maintained the seven-goal lead until the end.

Serbia - France 15:8 (4:2, 4:2, 4:2, 3:2)

Aquatic center. Judges: Margeta (Slovenia), Aleksandrescu (Romania). Player more: Serbia 8 (4), France 9 (4). Peterci: Serbia 2 (2), France 1 (1).

Serbia: Filipović (11 saves), Mandić 2, S. Rašović 2, Ranđelović 1, Ćuk, Dedović 1, Drašović 1, N. Jakšić 1, Drašović 1 Vico 1, Ubović 2, P. Jakšić 1, V. Rašović 1, Mišović (3 saves). Selector: Stevanović.
France: Dubois, Sodadier, Cruzia 1, Bue 1, Cass, Vernu 2, Marion-Vernu 1, Bjork, Marzuki 2, Bodega 1, Vanpeperstraete, Nardon, Fontani (9 saves). Selector Bruzo.

Men's Olympic water polo tournament, fourth round

The surprise of the day was the mentioned victory of Australia over Hungary 9:8. At the beginning of the last part, Hungary led 8:6. By the middle of the quarter, the Australians equalized, and Nathan Power scored the final score 46 seconds before the end.

Montenegro will not play in the quarterfinals for the first time since its debut at the 2008 Olympic Games. After two five-a-side defeats against big rivals (Greece and Italy), Montenegro today failed to get points in the crucial duel for further placement. She lost to USA (7:12). The team led by Dejan Udovicic gained a five-goal advantage (7:2) in the first half and kept it until the end.

Except for Montenegro, France, Japan and Romania will finish the tournament after the fifth round.

As far as the schedule of the quarter-finals is concerned, for now the only thing that is certain is that Spain will be first and Australia second in Group B. The leading position in Group A is currently Italy, but Croatia and Greece also have a chance to climb to the top of the table. .

Group A

First round: Italy - USA 12:8, Croatia - Montenegro 11:8, Romania - Greece 7:14.

Second round: Croatia - Italy 11:14, USA - Romania 14:8, Montenegro - Greece 16:17 (fives, 12:12).

Third round: Greece – USA 13:11, Italy – Montenegro 11:9 – five points (8:8), Croatia – Romania 11:8.

Fourth round: Croatia - Greece 14:13, Montenegro - USA 7:12, Italy - Romania 18:7.

Fifth round (Monday): Greece - Italy, Croatia - USA, Montenegro - Romania.

Placing: 1. Italy 11, 2. Croatia 9, 3. Greece 8, 4. USA  6, 5. Montenegro 2, 6. Romania 0.

Group B

First round: Australia - Spain 5:9, Serbia - Japan 16:15, Hungary - France 13:12

Second round:Australia - Serbia 8:3, Japan - France 13:14, Spain - Hungary 10:7.

Third round: Serbia - Spain 11:15, France - Australia 8:9, Hungary - Japan 17:10.

Fourth round: Spain - Japan 23:8, Australia - Hungary 9:8, Serbia - France 15:8

Fifth round (Monday):: Hungary - Serbia, Australia - Japan, Spain - France

Placing: 1. Spain  12 2. Australia 9, 3. Hungary 6, 4. France 3,  5. Serbia  3, 6. Japan 0.