Less than three weeks are left until the start of the men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament, which will take place in Rotterdam in the second half of February (14 – 21).
Twelve teams split into two groups will take part.
Group A: Greece, Montenegro, Brazil, Canada, Georgia, Turkey.
Group B: Croatia, Germany, Russia, Romania, Netherlands, France.
All teams are in the final phase of the preparations.
Canada, one of the two non-European teams at the tournament, arrived in Europe last week. Since then, the Canadians have been training together with Pro Recco in Genoa. They will be working with Recco until the end of January.
The Montenegrins also were on joint preparations with Pro Recco and Canada. They returned to the country and will play at the three-day tournament in Podgorica (January 27 – 29) against Serbia and the USA. Serbia is coming with a team composed mostly of the players who are members of the domestic clubs.
One of the favorites, Croatia, gathered again on Sunday evening, immediately after the Final Four of the National Cup, played in Rijeka. The first part of the final preparations will be held in Rijeka (January 25 – February 2), and the second part in Zagreb (from February 5 until the trip to Rotterdam).
Germany and Georgia were working out together. The two teams played a friendly match in Warendorf last week. Germany defeated Georgia 18:9.
Brazil finished the preparations in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. Until the trip to Europe, they will work in Sao Paolo.
France resumes its preparations in Marseille today. Before leaving for the Netherlands, the French will train in Marseille (January 25 – February 2) and Abbeville (February 3 – 12).
FINA published the Information bulletin for the tournament and schedule on its website.
The competition system is the same as at the women’s qualifications held last week in Trieste. After the group stage, the top four teams will advance to the quarterfinals. The difference compared to the ladies’ qualifications is that the top three teams will secure the Olympic berths.
Men’s Olympic Qualifications, Rotterdam (February 14 – 21, 2021)
Group stage
Group A
Day 1 (February 14)
Georgia – Greece (13:00)
Canada – Brazil (14:30)
Turkey – Montenegro (17:30)
Day 2 (February 15)
Greece – Brazil (16:00)
Montenegro – Canada (17.30)
Georgia – Turkey (20:30)
Day 3 (February 16)
Brazil – Montenegro (13:00)
Turkey – Greece (14:30)
Canada – Georgia (16:00)
Day 4 (February 17)
Greece – Montenegro (16:00)
Georgia – Brazil (17:30)
Turkey – Canada (20:30)
Day 5 (February 18)
Montenegro – Georgia (13:00)
Canada – Greece (14:30)
Brazil – Turkey (16:00)
Group B
Day 1 (February 14)
Netherlands – Germany (16:00)
Croatia – Romania (19:00)
France – Russia (20:30)
Day 2 (February 15)
Romania – Russia (13:00)
Germany – France (14:30)
Croatia – Netherlands (19:00)
Day 3 (February 16)
Russia – Germany (17:30)
Netherlands – Romania (19:00)
France – Croatia (20:30)
Day 4 (February 17)
Romania – Germany (13:00)
Croatia – Russia (14:30)
Netherlands – France (19:00)
Day 5 (February 18)
France – Romania (17:30)
Russia – Netherlands (19:00)
Croatia – Germany (20:30)
Quarterfinals (February 19)
Match QF1: 1A – 4B (14:00)
Match QF2: 2A – 3B (16:00)
March QF3: 3A – 2B (18:00)
Match QF4: 4A – 1B (20:00)
Semifinals (February 20)
Classification 5 – 8
Losers QF1 – QF3 (14:00)
Losers QF2 – QF4 (16:00)
Classification 1 – 4
Winners QF1 – QF3 (18:00)
Winners QF2 – QF4 (20:00)
Final Day (February 21)
Seventh-place game (12:00)
Fifth-place game (14:00)
Third-place game (16:00)
Final (18:00)
(The schedule is subject to change upon specific request from TV broadcasters)
Teams already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics: Serbia (2019 World League winner), Italy, Spain (finalists of the 2019 World Championships), USA (2019 Pan American Games winner), Hungary (2020 European champion), Kazakhstan (2018 Asian Games winner), Australia (Oceania qualifier), South Africa (Africa qualifier) and host Japan.
