Serbia men's national water polo team
Serbia
|
| Nickname(s) |
The Dolphins (Делфини, Delfini) |
| Association |
Water Polo Association of Serbia |
| Confederation |
LEN (Europe) |
| Head coach |
Dejan Udovičić |
| Asst coach |
Stanojević Dejan |
| Captain |
Vanja Udovičić |
| Most caps |
Dejan Savić (444) |
| Top scorer |
Aleksandar Šapić (981) |
| FINA code |
SRB |
| Olympic Games |
| Appearances |
16 (First in 1936) |
| Best result |
Winner, 1968, 1984, 1988 |
| World Championships |
| Appearances |
13 (First in 1973) |
| Best result |
Winners, 1986, 1991, 2005, 2009 |
| World League |
| Appearances |
9 (First in 2003) |
| Best result |
Winners, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 |
| World Cup |
| Appearances |
11 (First in 1979) |
| Best result |
Winners, 1987, 1989, 2006, 2010 |
| European Championship |
| Appearances |
21 (First in 1950) |
| Best result |
Winners, 1991, 2001, 2003, 2006 |
The Serbia men's national water polo team represents Serbia in international water polo competitions and is controlled by the Water Polo Association of Serbia. It was known as the Yugoslavia men's national water polo team until February 2003 and the Serbia and Montenegro national water polo team until June 2006. When Serbia became independent, it became the successor state to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and, therefore, the results of all previous states rightfully belong to it.[1] Including the results of the national teams under all names, Serbia is the most successful team in World championships and is one of the most successful in all other competitions. The Olympic Committee of Serbia and Yugoslavia declared the water polo team for the best male sports team of the year nine times with the first time in 2001, then seven times in a row from 2003 to 2009 and the last one in 2011.
European Championship
2012 Eindhoven
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- Preparation for the championship
On 15 December 2011. Coach Dejan Udovičić announced a wider squad for the upcoming European Championships in Eindhoven. He said that the competition will be important as a last check before the main event of the season - the Olympic Games in London. "The group is difficult but I am satisfied. The most important thing is to see what are our options before the Olympic Games in London. Of course we all want to attack the first place, it is our debt to the previous generations of Serbian water polo, and those who come," said Udovičić at a press conference in Belgrade.[2] Serbia's coach revealed that the "dolphin's" first training will be on 17th December and that the whole squad will be present except Mikić who still has obligations with his team. From 8 January they will go on a trip to Greece on a tournament where they will meet with Greece, Montenegro and Spain. Bronze team from the previous championship will travel to Eindhoven on 14th January. Goalkeepers are: Slobodan Soro, Gojko Pijetlović, Branislav Mitrović and the players are: Marko Avramović, Živko Gocić, Vanja Udovičić, Miloš Ćuk, Duško Pijetlović, Slobodan Mikić, Milan Aleksić, Nikola Rađen, Filip Filipović, Andrija Prlainović, Stefan Mitrović, Luka Šaponjić, Dušan Mandić, Nemanja Ubović and Aleks Šaponjić. This is the team announced by Dejan.
In Eindhoven on 29 December in a friendly match, Serbia beat Netherlands 15:6 (4:1, 5:1, 3:1, 3:3).[3] Serbian team played very seriously and for a full three quarters absolutely dominated. Goalkeepers shared playing time, with Gojko Pijetlović defending the first two, and Branislav Mitrović other two quarters. Selector Dejan Udovičić decided to rest his most experienced players, goalkeeper Soro, captain Udovičić and Filipović, Gocić and young Ubović. The most efficient in our ranks were Nikola Rađen and Andrija Prlainović hiting the net three times, while Ćuk, Nikić and Aleksić scored two goals. Dušan Mandić and Aleksa Šaponjić debuted, Šaponjić scored a goal. Preparations for the European Championship will be already continued on 2nd January 2012. European Water Polo Championship will be held in Eindhoven on 16 to 29 January 2012. , and Serbia will play in Group B with Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, Spain and Germany.
Players
Most appearances and goals
Professional friendly and competitive matches only where Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and now Serbia were represented.
Statistics accurate as of matches played 29th December 2011
Current squad
The squad for the 2012 European Water Polo Championship.
Coaches
Honours
Gold Medals
- Olympic Games (3): 1968, 1984, 1988
- World Championship (4): 1986, 1991, 2005, 2009
- European Championship (4): 1991, 2001, 2003, 2006
- FINA World League (6): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
- World Cup (4): 1987, 1989, 2006, 2010
- Mediterranean Games (7): 1959, 1967, 1971, 1979, 1983, 1997, 2009
- Goodwill Games (1): 1990
Special awards
Philanthropy
On 25th December 2011, Serbia's water polo team was included in a humanitarian action "Bitka za Bebe" ("the Battle for the Babies") playing an exibition match with the team of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON), in Belgrade.[4] Before the Serbian water polo team had joined the action, many other athletes were included. Among them was the best tennis player in the world, Novak Đoković, football and basketball players of Red Star Belgrade, and many other's. Proceeds from the ticket sales went to fund "Bitka za Bebe" and the money was successfully collected to purchase one incubator.[5][6]
References
External links
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