Water polo: the World League, the Settebello and the waltz of the calendars

In the crazy world of water sports, bewildered by Fina’s schizophrenia, there is some certainty: tomorrow the waterpolo World League returns, Settebello hosts Slovakia, they will be three easy points to secure the qualification to the quarterfinals. So far the certainties. Everything else is chaos generated by those who hold the strings. How else to judge the decision to organize the World Cup defined as “extraordinary” (June 18-July 3 in Budapest) after postponing those originally scheduled for May 13-29 in Fukuoka to 2023? Until 2025 we will have World Cups every year, and in 2024 there is also the Parisian Olympics. Not even the time to rethink the dates and the A-1 formula, which all comes into question. And of course it’s not just Italy’s problem. Meanwhile, Len had to adapt, anticipating the Champions League Final Eight scheduled in Belgrade on June 30-July 2 to 2-4 June.

DOUBTS

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The reactions of the coaches were varied: from the predictable enthusiasm of Tamas Marcz, the Hungarian host (“What good news”), to the grumbles of Dejan Udovicic, the American coach (“We didn’t really expect it, I’m afraid for the psychophysical conditions of the players “). Sandro Campagna does not hide the doubts about the congestion of dates, already upset by the pandemic: “Of course, such changes confuse ideas, preparation becomes complicated at every level. From 27 August to 10 September there will be the European Championships in Split and this means that everything is condensed in a short period of time, also considering the Scudetto and Champions League finals. The unknowns are also for the future: in January 2024, when the following European Championships would be scheduled, they have now placed the Doha World Championships … What is needed is clarity on the path to take, respect for the athletes. Otherwise it becomes difficult to plan “. Staying in 2022, it could be hypothesized that the technicians make use of a large turnover (without forgetting that there would also be the Mediterranean Games and the Universiade, inevitably with representatives of young people).

ALLA BIANCHI

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At the moment Fina has set the European World League finals for April 28-30: they will be played in Budapest. On 23-29 July the last act in Strasbourg, with France qualified by right and the addition of teams from the intercontinental tournament. But it’s best not to take anything for granted, as we said. So tomorrow, in Trieste (at 7pm, live RaiSport), the Slovakia formality is in place for the world champions. Campagna recovers some blues absent for Covid in the debut of Sabac (on January 18, the Serbs won 12-9). It was a Settebello between light and shadow, but filled with young people. Also two home boys in the boarding school started yesterday at the Bianchi swimming pool, Andrea Mladossich and Michele Mezzarobba: they are among the talents who surprisingly raised Waterpolo Trieste led by the talented Daniele Bettini to third place.

THE CONVOKED: Del Lungo, Nicosia, Alesiani, E.Di Somma, Dolce, Renzuto, Condemi, Ferrero, M.Di Martire, F.Di Fulvio, N.Presciutti, Damonte, Mladossich, Mezzarobba, Echenique, Bruni, A.Fondelli, Iocchi Scratch, Martial.

THE GROUP: Hungary, Montenegro, Romania (A); Germany, France, Spain (B); Serbia, Italy, Slovakia (C); Greece, Croatia, Russia (D). At the European Final Eight the first two of each group.

THE CALENDAR: Serbia-Italy 12-9, tomorrow Italy-Slovakia, 8 March Slovakia-Serbia. Standings: Serbia 3; Italy, Slovakia * 0 (* one game less)