Montenegro’s roster for the World Championships in Fukuoka (July 14 – 30), will be similar to the team that played at the major competitions last summer.
In comparison to the 2022 European Championships, the tournament that led to Montenegro’s qualification for the 2023 Worlds, there have been three changes.
Goalkeeper Dejan Lazovic and field players Luka Murisic and Marko Petkovic aren’t on the team. Lazovic has decided to skip the Fukuoka tournament as per an agreement with head coach Vladimir Gojkovic, while Marko Petkovic, Montenegro’s captain in 2022, retired from the national team.
Lazar Andric will replace Lazovic. An experienced Uros Cuckovic and Djuro Radovic, who didn’t play in Split (the first one due to injury, the other because of FINA’s suspension), are back on the team. The most experienced player of the Montenegrin team Cuckovic (33), who plans to end his career soon, Radovic and Andric played for Montenegro in Division 1 of the World Cup in Podgorica in March.
Most of the players are members of foreign clubs. The exceptions are Vasiije Radovic and Jovan Vujovic (both Jadran).
The male water polo tournament begins on July 17. Montenegro was drawn into a challenging group with Spain, Serbia, and South Africa.
“We had quality preparations. I think we are at a higher level than we were last summer. As for the results, the path to the quarterfinals is more difficult than ever. The spot among the top eight teams is our first goal. As for the ultimate wish – we know that two places lead to the Olympic Games and I hope that we will go towards that”, head coach Vladimir Gojkovic said after announcing the roster for the World Championships.
Montenegro’s roster for the 2023 World Championships
Goalkeepers: Petar Tesanovic (Brescia), Lazar Andric (Montpellier). Field players: Aljosa Macic (Sabac), Djuro Radovic (Jadran Split), Kanstantsin Averka (Sabadell), Uros Cuckovic (Marseille), Vlado Popadic (Strasbourg), Stefan Vidovic (Sabadell), Bogdan Djurdjic (Savona), Aleksa Ukropina (Panionios), Miroslav Perkovic (Novi Beograd), Vladan Spaic (Marseille), Dusan Matkovic (left Barceloneta, will join Noisy-le-Sec), Vasilije Radovic (Jadran Herceg Novi) and Jovan Vujovic (Jadran Herceg Novi)
After the series of friendly matches last week, the number of candidates for the national team was cut to 17 names. The two of the 17 that won’t travel to Japan are Dusan Banicevic, who got injured, and Savo Cetkovic.
Montenegro departs for Japan on Friday. Before the World Championships, Montenegro and Serbia will have joint training in Kashiwazaki. The teams will play in the same group in Fukuoka, but the preparations were planned before the draw.
Montenegro will play against South Africa on Day 1 (July 17). It will face Spain in the second round and Serbia on July 21. The winner of the group will qualify for the quarterfinals. The 2nd-placed and 3rd-placed will go to the crossover round against 2nd-placed and 3rd-placed from Group C (Croatia, Hungary, Argentina, Japan).
More articles about the World Championships
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