Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-52×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48
  • News
  • SUKNO U15 CAMP – MALTA 2023
  • SHOP NOW
  • LIVESCORE
    • HaBaWaBa Easter U12
    • HaBaWaBa Easter U10
    • LEN Champions League 2022/23
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic league 2022/23
      • Nordic League 2021/22
      • Nordic Women’s League 2022
    • 2023 FINA Men’s Water Polo World Cup
    • Alpe Waterpolo League
    • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus
    • Budva Masters 2023
    • Sunčana Kapica
    • GERMANY
    • AUSTRIA 🇦🇹
      • Bundesliga Women
      • Bundesliga Men
      • Supercup
      • Cup
      • Regionalliga Ost
      • U-21 Women
      • U-19
      • U-17
      • U-15
      • U-13
      • U-12
      • U-11
    • SLOVENIA 🇸🇮
      • Slovenian championship 2022/23
      • Slovenian Cup 2022/23
    • FINLAND 🇫🇮
      • Championship
      • U-13
      • U-15
      • U-17
    • AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
      • Sydney Super League 2.0 Men
      • Sydney Super League 2.0 Women
    • ROMANIA 🇷🇴
      • Superliga Națională – Romanian Water Polo League 2022/23
      • Superliga Națională
    • ICELAND 🇮🇸
      • Winter League Men 2021
      • Winter League Women 2021
    • LITHUANIA 🇱🇹
      • Championships
      • Nordic Junior CH U17
      • Nordic Junior CH U15
    • Total Waterpolo Trophy U-15
    • RWL
      • Premier League 21/22
      • A1 League 21/22
  • National
    • Spain
    • Hungary
    • Italy
    • France
    • Germany
    • Netherlands
  • International
    • Tokyo 2020 Olympic Water Polo
    • World Championships
      • Budapest 2022 Men
      • Budapest 2022 Women
      • FINA World Men’s Junior Championships Prague 2021
      • Gwangju 2019
      • Budapest 2017
    • European Championships
      • Split 2022 – M
      • Split 2022 – W
      • Budapest 2020
      • Barcelona 2018
    • Other
      • World League – Belgrade 2019
      • World Cup – Berlin 2018
      • Junior WC Prague 2021
      • Junior EC Podgorica 2022
      • Montenegro Cup 2022 (U16)
  • LEN Champions League
    • LEN Champions League 2022/23
    • LEN Champions League 2019/2020
    • LEN Champions League 2018/2019
  • Total Player Award
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
✕

World League F8, preview: Three champions in Group A

July 21, 2022

Photo by K. Vulovic/VPSCG

Water polo players and fans don’t have much time for a break this summer. Less than three weeks ago, the curtain on the World Championships in Budapest fell. Tomorrow, a new big tournament begins.

The World League Super Final starts in Strasbourg on Friday.

As usual, eight teams take part. Serbia, Spain, Montenegro and Australia will play in Group A. Italy, USA, Canada and France are seeded into Group B.

2022 World League Super Final, Group A

Three reigning champions will battle for 1st place in Group A – Spain, which claimed the gold medal at the World Championships in Budapest, Olympic champion Serbia and Montenegro, the winner of the previous edition of the World League.

Besides them, the best team of the southern hemisphere, Australia, is in this group.

Yes, we have three champions in this group, but none of them will play with their best roster. Head coaches of Spain, Serbia and Montenegro, decided to rest some of their best players during a period between the World and European championships. So, Felipe Perrone, Dusan Mandic, Alvaro Granados, Nikola Jaksic, Marc Larumbe, Branislav Mitrovic, Dejan Lazovic, Alberto Munarriz, Marko Petkovic, and several other aces won’t play in Strasbourg. The best Australian player Aaron Younger isn’t on the “Sharks” ‘s roster. He is taking a break this summer.

Anyway, we can expect an interesting tournament. Youngsters will be given a chance to prove themselves. They are, undoubtedly, eager for challenges.

Serbia

World League 2020/21: didn’t qualify for the F8 (5th place in Europe)

Best results in the World League: 10 gold medals (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019), bronze medal (2009). Two gold medals (2005, 2006), silver (2004) and 4th place (2003), as a part of FR Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro.

Road to Strasbourg: 1st place in the European qualifications

Roster – Goalkeepers: Dimitrije Risticevic, Milan Bulajic. Field players: Radomir Drasovic, Luka Pljevancic, Djordje Vucinic, Viktor Rasovic, Nikola Lukic, Nemanja Vico, Djordje Velkic, Bogdan Gavrilovic, Gavril Subotic, Ognjen Stojanovic, Marko Radulovic, Vasilije Martinovic, Vuk Milojevic and Filip Brankovic. Head coach: Dejan Savic.

The season 2022 is the 20th edition of the Men’s World League. Russia won the gold in the inauguration season (2002). Then, Hungary took two back-to-back titles. Since 2005, only ex-Yugoslavia countries have reached the highest step of the podium. Serbia is the World League’s ruler, with 10 gold medals plus two as a part of Serbia and Montenegro. Can the Serbs improve their record in Strasbourg?

There are no Olympic champions on Serbia’s roster in Strasbourg. Some of them retired, and the others got a rest in the middle of the packed summer.

Nikola Lukic Photo by Slobodan Sandic/WaterpoloSerbia

However, most Serbian players have a lot of experience in the intercontinental stage. Several younger players will debut at a major competition. But they know how to win medals because they are reigning World U20 champions. We’ll see how they will handle it as members of the senior team. Dejan Savic said that it would be beneficial for this mixture of players of a few generations to experience a big tournament in one team together.

Spain

World League 2020/21: didn’t qualify for the F8 (4th place in Europe)

Best results in the F8 tournaments: silver medal (2002, 2006, 2012), bronze medal (2018), 4th place (2019).

Road to Strasbourg: 3rd place in the European qualifications.

Roster – Goalkeepers: Unai Aguirre, Edoardo Lorrio, Field players: Alberto Barroso, Unai Biel, Alejandro Bustos, Sergi Cabanas, Miguel De Toro, Martin Famera, Nikolas Paul, Agusti Pericas; Albert Ponferrada, Bernat Sanahuja, Roger Tahull, Fran Valera. Head coach: David Martin.

Unai Aguirre (ESP), the best goalkeeper of the World ChampionshipsPhoto :Orange Pictures

Between the Tokyo Olympics and the World Championships in Budapest, Spain didn’t make many changes on the roster. But, after great success in Hungar, younger players will get a chance.

Winning the gold medal in Budapest, at the most important competition of the year, didn’t exhaust the Spaniards. As David Martin said in an interview with Total Waterpolo, it was very easy to motivate the players for a challenge in Strasbourg. They are eager to succeed and always play to win.

The gold medal in the World League is still missing in Spain’s treasury. The tournament in Strasbourg is a nice chance for Spain to make a step further compared to their previous best appearances (three silver medals)

Montenegro

World League 2020/21: winner

Best results in the World League: three gold medals (2009, 2018, 2021), silver (2010), two bronze medals (2013, 2014), 4th place (2018). Two gold medals (2005, 2006), silver (2004) and 4th place (2003) as part of FR Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro.

Road to Strasbourg: 4th place in the European qualifications (invited to participate in the F8 after Brazil withdrew)

Roster – Goalkeepers: Petar Tesanovic, Lazar Andric, Field players: Marko Mrsic, Vasilije Radovic*, Kanstantsin Averka, Uros Cuckovic, Vlado Popadic, Stefan Vidovic, Bogdan Djurdjic, Jovan Vujovic, Vladan Spaic, Dusan, Matkovic, Dusan Banicevic,  Luka Murisic and Martin Gardasevic. Head coach: Vladimir Gojkovic.

Montenegro comes to Strasbourg as the reigning champion but not as a heavy favorite. Since the last year’s World League, the team has changed significantly. Aleksandar Ivovic, the MVP of the 2021 Super Final in Tbilisi, retired from the national team. A long-time captain Drasko Brguljan also isn’t on the team. The process of the rejuvenation of the Montenegrin team still hasn’t finished. Besides, the Montenegrins arrive in Strasbourg unplanned.

Vlado Popadic (MNE) Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures

They were invited just several days ago, after Brazil withdrew. Montenegro proved at the World Championships that it can be an equal opponent to the favorites. As we already mentioned, the Strasbourg team differs from Budapest’s team. But, Vladimir Gojkovic underlined in an interview for Total Waterpolo that he believed in this team and that they would try to beat each opponent.

Australia

World League 2020/21: didn’t participate.

Best results in the World League: three bronze medals (2007, 2008, 2019), three 4th places (2006,2010, 2014).

Road to Strasbourg: 2nd place in the Intercontinental Cup.

Roster – Goalkeepers: Nick Porter, John Hedges. Field players: Matthew Byrnes, Blake Edwards, George Ford, Rhys Holden, Kennan Marsden, Tom McJannett, Charlie, Negus, Matthew James Oberman, Luke Pavillard, Chaz Poot, Nathan Power, Timothy Francis, Putt, Reillz Townsend. Head coach: Tim Hamill

Australia didn’t participate in the previous edition of the World League due to the Covid pandemic. Since 2019, the “Sharks” have played in only three competitions – Tokyo Olympics, Intercontinental Cup, and the World Championships.

They failed to make the quarterfinals in Tokyo and Budapest, and finished in 2nd place in the Intercontinental Cup.

The “Aussies” played one very good game at the World Championships – against Serbia (honestly, the Olympic champions were far from their best in that game). After that encounter, Team USA, Italy and Japan beat Australia quite easily. The team coached by Tim Hamill finished the tournament with a convincing win over South Africa in the 11th-place match..

Nathan Power

Australia, led by players who have experience playing in Europe (Pavillard, Power), is still growing. Still, it won’t be a surprise if it beats some of its European rivals.

Schedule

Friday, July 22

14:00 Italy – Canada
16:00 Australia – Spain
18:00 Serbia – Montenegro
20:00 USA – France

Saturday, July 23
14:00 Australia – Montenegro
16:00 Serbia – Spain
18:00 USA – Canada
20:00 Italy – France

Sunday, July 24

14:00 Italy – USA
16:00 Serbia – Australia
18:00 Montenegro – Spain
20:00 Canada – France

All times are CET

July 25-27
Quarter-finals/Semifinals/Finals

All medal winners

2002: 1. Russia, 2. Spain, 3. Hungary
2003: 1. Hungary, 2. Italy, 3. USA
2004: 1. Hungary, 2. Serbia and Montenegro, 3. Greece
2005: 1. Serbia and Montenegro, 2. Hungary, 3. Germany
2006: 1. Serbia and Montenegro, 2. Spain, 3. Greece
2007: 1. Serbia, 2. Hungary, 3. Australia
2008: 1. Serbia, 2.USA, 3. Australia
2009: 1. Montenegro, 2. Croatia, 3. Serbia
2010: 1. Serbia, 2. Montenegro, 3. Croatia
2011: 1. Serbia, 2. Italy, 3. Croatia
2012: 1. Croatia, 2. Spain, 3. Italy
2013: 1. Serbia, 2. Hungary, 3. Montenegro
2014: 1. Serbia, 2. Hungary, 3.Montenegro
2015: 1. Serbia, 2. Croatia, 3. Brazil
2016: 1. Serbia, 2. USA, 3. Greece
2017: 1. Serbia, 2. Italy, 3. Croatia
2018: 1. Montenegro, 2. Hungary, 3. Spain
2019: 1. Serbia, 2. Croatia, 3. Australia
2020/2021: 1. Montenegro, 2. USA, 3. Greece

All articles about the World League

Ivan Curcic
Ivan Curcic

Related posts

Christina Siouti of Olympiacos. Photo: Olympiacos SFP.

March 30, 2023

Olympiacos stay invincible; PAOK shock Panionios


Read more

Adam Furman (Sete) Photo by Philippe Fretault/ WP Inside

March 30, 2023

Noisy in semi-finals; Sete locks 5th place


Read more

Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo

March 30, 2023

Hungary announce 20-strong squad for World Cup


Read more

Featured Projects

Learn More

Learn More

Custom Team Gear

LEARN MORE

Shop Now

Looking for something?

✕
  • Olympiacos stay invincible; PAOK shock Panionios
  • Noisy in semi-finals; Sete locks 5th place
  • Hungary announce 20-strong squad for World Cup
  • Zivko Gocic about Mandic: There was no conflict, it was difficult to make this move
  • Women’s Champions League 2023 Final-4 Preview
  • Home
  • Water Polo News
  • WearWaterpolo Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Project Superstar – TW Camp
  • BIWPA
  • Custom Team Equipment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2021 Total Waterpolo. All Rights Reserved.
Total Waterpolo Arena