Today and in the last few days, several head coaches have announced their rosters for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Among them are coaches of the reigning World and European champions for men – Italy and Hungary.
Italy (men)
Italy’s head coach Alessandro Campagna called up these players – goalkeepers: Marco Del Lungo (Pro Recco), Gianmarco Nicosia (Telimar), field players: Niccolo Figari (Iren Quinto), Nicholas Presciutti (Pro Recco), Alessandro Velotto (Pro Recco), Vincenzo Dolce (Brescia), Gonzalo Echenique (Pro Recco), Francesco Di Fulvio (Pro Recco), Pietro Figlioli (Pro Recco), Stefano Luongo (Brescia), Vincenzo Renzuto (Brescia), Matteo Aicardi (Pro Recco), Michael Bodegas (free agent).
Comparing to the team that won the gold medal at the 2019 World Championships, Edoardo Di Somma is missing. He wasn’t among the candidates for the Olympic roster and didn’t play at the World League Super Final due to an injury. Nicholas Presciutti replaced Di Somma. Presciutti missed the 2019 WCH because he had problems with a shoulder.
Hungary (men)
Hungary’s coach Tamas Marcz didn’t make many changes, as well as Campagna. He invited almost all of the 13 players who won the European title in Budapest last year. Zoltan Pohl isn’t on the roster. A new name is Matyas Pasztor (BVSC), the best scorer of the 2020/21 Hungarian League.
Goalkeepers – Viktor Nagy (Szolnok), Soma Vogel (Ferencvaros), field players: Daniel Angyal (Szolnok), Balasz Erdelyi (Vasas), Norbert Hosnyanszky (Honved), Balazs Harai (OSC), Szilard Jansik (Ferencvaros), Krisztian Manhercz (OSC), Tamas Mezei (Vasas), Matyas Pasztor (BVSC), Denes Varga (Ferencvaros), Marton Vamos (Ferencvaros), Gergo Zalanki (Pro Recco).
Australia (men)
Australia’s head coach Elvis Fatovic, who will take over Barceloneta after the Tokyo Olympics, selected the team yesterday.
Two players – Rhys Howden and Richie Campbell- will make their fourth Olympic appearance. Aidan Roach, Joel Dennerley, and Aaron Younger return for their third Games, George Ford will play at the Olympic Games for the second time, while seven players will debut at the Olympics. It’s interesting that there are two pairs of brothers in the squad – Blake and Lachlan Edwards and George and Andrew Ford.
Goalkeepers: Joel Denerley, Anthony Hrysanthos, field players: Richie Campbell, Lachlan Edwards, Blake Edwards, Andrew Ford, George Ford, Rhys Howden, Nathan Power, Timothy Putt, Aidan Roach, Goran Tomasevic, Aaron Younger
USA (women)
Adam Krikorian, the head coach of the USA women’s team, announced the roster last week. Five players will make their Olympic debut: Alys Williams, Stephania Haralabidis, Paige Hauschild, Jamie Neushul, and Amanda Longan. Maggie Steffens and Melissa Seidemann are in the Olympic team for the third time.
Goalkeepers: Ashleigh Johnson, Amanda Longan, field players: Maddie Musselman, Melissa Seidemann, Rachel Fattal, Paige Hauschild,Maggie Steffens, Stephania Haralabidis, Jamie Neushul, Aria Fischer, Kaleigh Gilchrist, Makenzie Fischer, Alys Williams.
Hungary (women)
It is known who will represent the Hungarian female water polo at the Tokyo Olympics.
Head coach Attila Biro picked these players – Goalkeepers: Edina Gangl, Aida Magyari, field players: Krisztina Garda, Greta Gurisatti, Aniko Gyongyossy, Anna Illes, Rita Keszthelyi-Nagy, Dora Leimeter, Rebecca Parkes, Natasa Rybanska, Dorottya Szilagyi, Gabriella Szucs,Vanda Valyi.
12 + 1 players
According to the regulations, that were approved in 2019, there will only be 12 players on a team for a match,. A head coach can select 12 different players for each game (10 field players plus two goalkeepers or 11 field players and 1 goalkeeper). The 13th athlete will be seated in the stands. All 13 players will be accommodated in the Olympic Village.
Originally it was planned that the 13th player would be accommodated within the overall National Olympic Committee bed allocation (at Olympic Village or elsewhere). But, meanwhile, it was decided that all players will be in the Olympic Village, to avoid the risk of coronavirus infection.
Olympic Games, groups
Men’s tournament (July 24 – August 8)
Group A: South Africa, United States, Hungary, Greece, Japan, Italy
Group B:Australia, Croatia, Serbia, Spain, Kazakhstan, Montenegro
Women’s tournament (July 23 – August 7)
Group A: Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, Spain, Canada
Group B:Russia, Japan, Hungary, United States, China
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