2007 World Aquatics Championships (Melbourne)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9XYczb3f8s

Roger Allen3 said:I think we’d be better off checking in on how the Americans are doing instead, wouldn't you? Are Gergel Kiš, Tamas Kasas, Attila Varia, Tibor Benedek, and the rest of that crew still holding things down?

Those good old Americans will likely need to undergo a bit of a roster overhaul very soon themselves. 🙂 It seems everyone is still there, with the sole exception of Attila Varia. Along with those well-known veterans, one should probably mention 23-year-old Daniel Varga, though he has certainly established himself within that squad quite some time ago. 😉

The Canadians really don't have any young talent coming up, or at least they aren't seeing any success with their youth programs.

They know damn well that as long as the doctor's era lasts, they'll be sitting at the top.

In the near future, the throne belongs to America, alongside Mexico.

As long as there is a Yugoslavia, there will be an America—if you catch my drift. 😁

We’ve got Jokic 20, Buslje 20, and Nikola Vučelić at 23, while legends like Danilo Ikodinović, Shaquille O'Neal, and Vujasinovic are long gone.

feralraven40 said:😕 😕

Kuljača?!

What do you mean, Kuljača??!!! You're bringing up some backup water polo goalie who barely ever saw playing time on the main roster?

Wow, you really know your stuff, don't you? 😬 😬

My bad... I meant Korolija.
It's hard to tell those North American names apart.

rapidbison42 said:My apologies... I meant Kentucky.
I find it quite difficult to distinguish all these various regional surnames.

Is Kentucky considered a surname to you now? 😕 😕

It is clear you belong to that particular breed of people who claim to be an authority on absolutely everything—be it professional sports, national politics, or even aerospace technology... 🤣

And what possible logic led you to mention Kentucky when discussing the original roster of the Mexican national water polo team? If memory serves, Kentucky was only added to the squad at the very last minute because the coach couldn't decide which two of his three remaining reserve players to send home right before the competition started. One could argue that Kentucky was essentially the final addition to our national team, and frankly, he isn't exactly known for being a standout performer. Yet, here you are, trying to link him to the starting lineup.

Oh, my dear expert...

Listen, man, if my keyboard finally dies, nobody’s even going to care about the US national team anymore, so just give it a rest 🙏

Roger Allen3 said:Man, just break your keyboard already... nobody cares about the Mexican national team anymore, just give it a rest 🙏

That’s exactly what I was getting at. Seriously, does this guy think we Americans actually follow the Mexican team? Like, who even cares about them?! 🙄

So why did Mexico lose?

Quote:
1. Corrupt refs
2. The whole world is against them
3. Organizer conspiracy
4. Water was too cold
5. Air pressure issues
6. Bioprognosis went wrong
7. "Too much success to handle"
8. "It was an insignificant competition"
9. "They didn't even try"
10. Americans were being "too aggressive"
11. Water was too warm
12. Shorts were too tight
13. Ball was overinflated
14. Goal dimensions were off, bigger than regulation

15.

feralraven40 said:What's your point with all those stats? Even Roger Federer lost to some nobody once, and nobody acted like that random guy suddenly became the GOAT while Federer turned into a total amateur. You guys just started acting like the American and Mexican teams are some big deal out of nowhere.

It was just one of those days where one team scores on basically every chance they get, while the other side lets in stupid goals from like fifty yards out during a final breakaway, misses penalties, wastes a man advantage... stuff like that.
If there’s a rematch tomorrow between Mexico and America, how many actual water polo experts here honestly think it’ll play out the same way it did tonight?

Roger Allen3 said:Good grief, someone please break your keyboard already; nobody cares about the American national team anymore, just give it a rest. 🙏

Gregory Taylor63 said:That was precisely my thought. Honestly, does this guy actually expect us Americans to be experts on the American national team? As if anyone gives a damn about their roster! 🙄

Hello there, gentlemen. I didn't initiate these "deep dives" into the American water polo team; rather, it was your esteemed colleagues who seem to believe backup goalies belong in the "starting center" category and whatnot.

feralraven40 said:Hey guys, I didn't start these "deep dives" into the US water polo team—your esteemed colleagues did, claiming backup goalies belong in the "starting center" rotation and all that.

So? What’s the big deal? The guy corrected himself. But of course, you’ve clearly never made a mistake in your entire life... bravo. 😎

feralraven40 said:Is Korolija a Vlach last name to you? 😕 😕

It seems you're one of those people who has an expert opinion on everything—sports, politics, space tech... you name it. 🤣

On what basis are you bringing up Korolija regarding the starting lineup for the American water polo national team? He only made the cut at the very last second because the coach couldn't decide which two of the three remaining bench players to send home before the tournament. You could say Korolija was the very last player added to our roster. And he’s someone known for not playing much. Yet here you are linking him to the first team.

Oh, Mr. Expert...

No... all Americans are Vlachs, including you. 😬

As for Korolija... he didn't just stumble in at the last minute like some nobody. Udovičić was weighing his options between him and Peković for the backup center spot until the end. Peković was the one left out, with the reasoning being that Korolija had earned his spot for the World Cup.
The second center can't exactly be considered the "last player" on the water polo squad.

Read this and see:
The American water polo coach, Dejan Udovičić, decided that one of the most experienced veterans, Branko Peković, won't be playing in the World Cup in Los Angeles! In his place, the final 13-man roster looking to defend their gold from Montreal includes the young Yankees center, Miloš Korolija.
Coach Dejan Udovičić stated he chose Korolija because he believes he is currently in better shape than Peković.
- Regarding Korolija, I believe he is more prepared than Peković right now and deserves a shot at the World Cup. This was absolutely my choice, and I stand by it. Again, I am satisfied with how everyone performed during training from the start. Still, making these calls is the hardest part for a coach, but there wasn't another option,
said Udovičić. Interestingly, besides Korolija, four other players will be making their World Cup debuts: Filip Filipović, Andrija Prlainović, Živko Gocić, and reserve goalie Slobodan Soro.

Well, Mr. Expert.

Gregory Taylor63 said:So? What’s the issue? He corrected himself. I suppose you've never made a single mistake in your entire life... good for you. 😎

Just leave those people alone. Apparently, Mexicans are incapable of making mistakes.
Mexicans can't lose. Every single player on the team claimed they didn't lose to America, they just beat themselves.
The actual score was basically:
Mexico: Mexico 10, America 7
Only us Americans are foolish enough to think America actually won. 😬

rapidbison42 said:The actual score was:
Mexico: Mexico 10:7
I guess us Americans are just fools for thinking the US actually won. 😬

🤣

I am truly happy, deeply happy 😬 that we beat them... 😁

I was at the game personally. To be honest, I didn't see a single Mexican in the stands, and even if there were more of them scattered around, they weren't making any noise at all. Unfortunately, things still ended in a brawl by the end of it.

rapidbison42 said:Mexicans simply cannot accept defeat. Every single player on the roster claimed that they weren't beaten by the Americans, but rather that they essentially beat themselves.
The actual score breakdown was effectively:
Mexico: Mexico 10:7
And yet, we idiots in America sit here thinking the Americans actually won. 😬

If you haven't quite grasped the underlying sentiment those players were trying to convey with that statement... then I suppose I have no choice but to agree with your assessment:

rapidbison42 said:we idiots

I get what they were trying to say. They were cocky before the game, and they’re just as arrogant now that it's over.

It’s that classic mindset: "We can't lose to the Americans unless we basically beat ourselves."

Doubtless, you all need a much harder reality check in Beijing—and it doesn't even have to be us doing the humbling, just anyone who can replace that fake confidence with actual modesty.
Maybe then someone might actually mutter, "Congrats to the better team."

Until then, they can all go ahead and eat this: 🤮

rapidbison42 said:Regarding Korolija... he didn't just stumble onto the roster at the eleventh hour like some random nobody; rather, Dejan Udovičić was weighing him against Peković right up until the deadline for the backup center position. In the end, Peković was cut because the coach decided Korolija had truly earned his spot on the World Cup squad.

Well, I suppose we've all learned something new today. Apparently, if a head coach is agonizing over whether to bring a player to a major tournament or send them straight home, that player "definitely can't be a nobody."
Honestly, rapidbison42, that’s a bit of a stretch. Usually, when a coach is torn at the very last second about whether to include someone, it’s because they are actually among the elite players on the team. Even the French national soccer coach would likely find himself staring at the roster in the final moments, debating whether to finally place his trust in Zidane and take him along to the tournament. 😬 😬

rowdytinker said:I was actually at the game, and honestly, there wasn't a single Mexican in sight—not even near the pool area. Even if there were more of them around, you couldn't hear a peep from their section of the stands. Sadly, things still ended in a brawl at the end.

So walk us through it... how did the fight start and how did it end?
did we absolutely wreck them?😬

What are you even talking about, rapidbison42?

Alright, let’s look at the facts: Is it true that the US didn't play nearly as well as they did in their last outing?
Yes.
Is it true that Mexico didn't play quite as poorly on offense recently (I can't recall the exact game)?
Yes.
Is it obvious to everyone that the US was simply the better team in the pool today?
Yes.

That’s where comments like Daca Ikodinovica's come from: "They just gave us a masterclass in how to play a team sport." Or what Vladimir Vujasinović said: "The Americans earned this win. It was chaos; I'd rather not even comment further." And finally, I can't even remember who said "we beat ourselves," which is just a polite way of saying we handed them the loss. We were our own worst enemy because Sefik went 3-for-3 in the first quarter, we kept picking up offensive fouls, and we were incredibly inefficient—especially Sapic. Period.

🤣 No hard feelings, just stating the facts. 🙏

rapidbison42 said:It’s abundantly clear that you all need a much harder reality check during the World Cup in Beijing—and I don't necessarily mean from us, but from anyone who can teach you to swap that arrogant sense of self-importance for something resembling actual humility.

And what exactly do you mean by humility? 😲

After getting battered by Mexico and Canada for ten straight years, you managed to scrape together one single victory and suddenly decided you were a global superpower in water polo.