Serbian juniors first place at the tournament in Szeged
The junior national team of Serbia won first place at the tournament in Szeged, which brought together five national selections as part of preparations for the European Championship for players under 19 years of age, which will be held in Burgas (Bulgaria) from September 1 to 7. .
In addition to our team, led by Miloš Korolija, the hosts Hungary, Croatia, Italy and Germany also participated in the Daikin-Herakles Cup for 19-year-olds.
Serbian youth experienced one defeat and recorded three victories, the most impressive of which was today's over Hungary, with a ten-goal difference.
Serbia opened the tournament with a defeat. In the first round, Croatia was more successful than the Serbian juniors - 11:8 (2:1, 3:4, 4:1, 2:2).
Our national team was free in the second round, and in the third round it beat Italy 7:6 (1:2, 1:1, 2:0, 3:3). The Italians led 2:0 in the first quarter, and 3:1 at the end of the second. After the third goal of the Italians, the Serbian team began to dominate and took a 7:3 lead with a 6:0 series. The Italians scored three goals in the final 102 seconds, but Serbia saved three points.
Serbia met Germany in the fourth round and won 14:11 (3:3, 5:2, 2: 3, 4:3). Serbia led 8:4 in the second quarter. The Germans, led from the bench by Serbian expert Nebojša Novoselac, tied the game at 10:10 in the final period, but the Serbian selection responded with four goals and secured the victory.
The last rival of our team was Hungary, undefeated to this day. Serbia needed a four-goal win to climb to first place. Miloš Korolija's team reached three points and the first position with a more convincing victory than anyone expected. They outclassed the Hungarians with a 21:11 triumph (8:4, 4:2, 5:4, 4:1). Serbia shocked the hosts already with the first quarter (8:4), and in the second they reached +6 for the first time (10:4). At the beginning of the third period, Hungary reduced the deficit to four goals (8:12). In the next few minutes, our team scored three goals in a row to lead 15:8 and dominated until the end. Strahinja Krstić, MVP of the recently held World Championship for 18-year-olds, led the Serbian attack with seven goals.
Serbia, Croatia and Hungary finished the tournament with nine points each, and our team won the first place due to the best score in their matches.
Selector Miloš Korolija took the following team to Szeged - goalkeepers: David Dimković (Partizan), David Pantelić (Radnički), Viktor Savić (Crvena zvezda), players in the field: Kosta Bodiroga, Vuk Anđelić, Luka Gladović, Miljan Đokanović, Andrija Jauković, Strahinja Krstić, Aleksandar Ilić (Partizan), Uroš Vujković (Vojvodina), Lazar Antić, Veljko Dončić, Vuk Kojić (Radnički), Relja Danković, Radoljub Gajić, Filip Novaković (Sabac).
Daikin – Herakles Cup for water polo players under 19, Szeged
First round: Hungary - Germany 15:8, Serbia - Croatia 8:11 (scorers for Serbia: Krstić 3, Danković 2, Bodiroga, Jauković, Gladović 1 each).
Second round: Italy - Germany 10:12, Hungary - Croatia 9:4.
Third round: Serbia – Italy 7:6 (scorers for Serbia: Gladović 2, Dončić 1, Jauković 1, Danković 1, Ilić 1, Krstić 1), Croatia – Germany 12:8.
Fourth round: Hungary - Italy 12:11, Serbia - Germany 14:11 (Scorers for Serbia: Gladović 3, Novaković 3, Danković 2, Bodiroga 2, Dončić 2, Kojić 1, Krstić )
Fifth round: Croatia - Italy 9:6, Hungary - Serbia 11:21 (scorers for Serbia: Krstić 7, Gladović 4, Bodiroga 3, Anđelić 1, Gajić 1, Đokanović 1, Jauković 1, Novaković 1)
Placing: 1. Serbia 9, 2. Hungary 9, 3. Croatia 9, 4. Germany 3, 5. Italy 0.
