Secret of Croatia’s Water Polo Team’s New Image

The Barracudas have a new image, but they are still powerful and convincing in the pool, as was felt by the Italian team.

After Croatia’s Baracudas achieved their first victory at the Olympics in Beijing, we spoke to the Croatian water polo team’s assistant coach, Milorad Damjanic.

What is the atmosphere like after the first opponent was conquered? 

- The atmosphere is good. We had a bit of a stage fright at the beginning of the match, but we resolved that and in the second part of the match we set things the way they should be – Damjanic told Javno.

The next game is against Serbia. Will there be any changes or will the formation be the same as against Italy? 

- We function from match to match. We will do our best and we are aiming for victory. I am sure the Serbs will find it a difficult match, it will be a war and of course, we will try our hardest. After all, it is a match that is important in the group, as are all matches, of course.

The schedules of the matches are not excellent. How much does that bother the team? 

- The preparations were carried out in such a way that we are not bothered by that and we paid a lot of attention to that. The boys have adapted well to such a schedule because we trained in a way that the boys do not need their afternoon rest.

The boys have a new image. Almost all of the team have grown moustaches. Does that have any special meaning? 

- You will have to ask them about the meaning. The purpose of the moustaches is not in the look, but rather unity, that they are all as one. The point was not in intimidating the opponent. The only one they can intimidate is probably the opposite sex.