Serbia wins the World League and a place in the 2016 Olympic men's water polo
Victory against Croatia in the final leads Serbia to its ninth World League gold medal; Brazil beats the USA to take 3rd
Bronze medalist at Beijing 2008 and London 20012, Serbia secured its place at Rio 2016 (Giorgio Scala/FINA)
On Sunday (28) Serbia became the first European country to qualify for the men’s water polo competition at the 2016 Olympic Games, after emerging victorious at the 2015 FINA Men's Water Polo World League Super Final in Bergamo, Italy. The Serbian team beat reigning Olympic champions, Croatia, by 9-6. Bronze medalists at the last two Olympic Games, the Serbs claimed their ninth World League gold medal on Sunday (their third in a row).
2016 Olympic host country, Brazil, who have not participated in the men's water polo at the Games since Los Angeles in 1984, came third in Bergamo and proved they are hot on the trail of medals at the 2016 Games.
The Water Polo World League is an annual tournament that brings together the world’s best teams. After two qualifying phases (one European; another intercontinental), eight teams compete in the final phase, which consists of a group stage followed by play-offs to decide the winner. Besides the trophy, this year’s winner Serbia, also won a place in the pool at the Olympic Games.
Serbia beat Australia in the group stage of the World League (Photo: Serbia Water Polo)
Aiming for the podium at the 2016 Games, the Brazilian team (which has its Olympic place secured automatically as the host country) has employed the current Olympic champion coach, the Croatian, Ratko Rudic, to lead their Olympic charge. The Brazilian squad epitomises Brazil’s multi-cultural nature, counting among its number 4 foreign players naturalized in Brazil: the Croatian Josip Vrlic, Cuban Ives Alonso, Italian Paulo Salemi and Spaniard Adriá Delgado. Brazilian-born Felipe Perrone, voted best player in the Champions League 2014/2015, has also returned to his native team after a spell abroad playing for Spain.
In the memorable game that was the fight for third place, Brazil and the USA were tied 10-10 at seven seconds from time, taking the battle for bronze to penalties. The South Americans won after a lengthy shootout, which finished 24-23 in favour of the 2016 Olympic hosts.
"It was a high class game. Early on, we gave the United States a lot of freedom. After a few minutes we improved and recovered our game and managed to draw at the end. In the shootouts, we were competent and also lucky," said Rudic.
Serbia now joins Brazil, the host country, as the only two countries in the line-up for the Rio 2016 men’s water polo so far. The next two countries to qualify will be the two finalists of the 2015 World Championship beginning on July 24. The other eight places will be decided in 2016, given out to the winners of each of the five continental championships (in Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania); and the top three teams from the Olympic Games Qualification Tournament.
In the women’s competition, so far only Brazil is in the line-up. The other seven teams will be decided next year, made up of the winners of 4 Continental Championships (Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania) and the top three countries from the Olympic Games Qualification Tournament.
Third in the World League, the Brazil will compete at the 2016 Games on the hunt for a medal (Photo: Giorgio Scala/FINA)
Qualifying for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a continual process and the final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). Places are recommended by national federations or the sporting organisations of each country and its respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee, who will decide the final places. Follow the race to qualify for Rio 2016 here.
