The Americans dominated two quality opponents and, aside from Spain, have the most momentum. They’ll handle Australia and will defeat Greece in a close one. The players are all excellent, but Cupido, Irving, and Hallock have exuded total control in all aspects in several games now. Best of luck to the women v Italy.
US shot blocking was superb in the first half. A quality win. This is the best US team since 2008.
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Even with Bijac sitting out the opening quarter, the US shots in the period were pretty much perfect. Not sure he would have made a difference. This was definitely the best game for the US since the bronze game against Hungary at the 2023 “World Cup”. Though, Croatia’s defense was incredibly sloppy in the first half, especially on 6-5. No idea how they lost Hooper on the 6 to 1 cross-pass from Daube.
In the second half, Croatia alternated between the Brescia zone and a more traditional M zone, and the US shooters didn’t capitalize on it. I think they are better off going into a double post against some of these more structured drops. Cupido likes to post up, and it’ll open up better angles for Ryder Dodd, Bowen, Irving, and Daube on the perimeter. I’m still very confused about Bowen’s play time. I’m wondering if he has an undisclosed injury. We need him at his best to push for a medal.
I had doubts about Weinberg after game 1, but he has proven me wrong. He needs to ride this wave into the knockouts.
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Australia has been playing well, but Serbia’s performance in the first quarter of the Australia vs Serbia game was the worst one by any quality team I saw in a long time at the Olympics. I am not sure if it was humanly possible to play worse. And no, Australia good defense did not play the main role in all those mistakes committed by Serbs. If USA plays the way they played in the first half today, they will go into semifinals for sure.
My best guess (coin flip) predictions for Mens:
Accuracy of my predictions give or take 50% accuracy
Quarters :
Italy Hungary
- This is the toughest to handicap in the quarters as Hungary seems to have been getting better as tournament moves on, That said I will take Italy in a close one.
Croatia Spain
- Spain by 2-3. They are more talented, deeper, faster, and more players at peak.
Greece Serbia
- Greece by 2-3. Even though Mandic continues to be a one man wrecking crew, I think this incredible group of players are ready to move on and welcome a new batch.
US Aus
- US by 1 in a low scoring battle. Another tough one to handicap as the Sharks have played incredible this tournament. That said I think the US will come in with confidence and win a close one.
Semis:
Italy v Spain
- Spain by 2
Greece v US
- Greece by 4
Finals:
Spain vs Greece
- Spain by 1 in a very tight game
US v Italy
- Italy by 1 vs US with a brutality or two and loaded with controversy.
I’m not certain Italy didn’t let Greece win because they assumed Croatia would beat the U.S. like most here.
Had Croatia won, Italy’s path to the gold medal game would have been beat Australia and then the Croatia/Serbia winner. Spain Greece and Hungary would have all battled it out on the other side.
Instead it backfired on them with the U.S. win. They now have Hungary and likely Spain as their path to the Gold Medal game.
Since he hasn’t been mentioned in this thread I think Obert deserves a shout out. He was highly rated in the Romania game
In the Croatia game, he drew a kick-out, had a great turn for a penalty shot when we needed a goal. He has also played pretty good 2 meter D. The old man is playing limited minutes but is having an impact while he is in the pool.
For some reason, Tony can’t say a single positive word about him. Too busy talking about himself I guess.
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A tight and tough first half in the USA-Hungary quarterfinal. I think the US is extremely lucky to end that half with a lead. A couple of bounces go the other way and they could have been down 3-0 early.
The Hungarians look very locked in and really committed to their game plan. They trust their outside shooters. Johnson and the shot blockers have kept them at bay, but they are dangerous.
The US has struggled with turnovers and is drawing a lot of exclusions but not capitalizing. They look tight. The best offense for them has come when they are in motion.
On to the second half!
This is getting very physical as could be expected. The Hungarians are ripping it from everywhere. They are the more attacking team. The saves/shots stat they displayed was telling. The Americans have no offense inside 7 meters if they don’t get an exclusion. 8 minutes for one team or the other to pull away.
What a game. That had a little of everything. The exclusions and targeting players to get kicked out paid off for the US as well as Johnson just being the GOAT. Great win for the women. Looking forward to the next round.
What a game. If that had gone to penalties I would have had a heart attack
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I missed most of first half. Based on what I did see–a slug fest, and the US was lucky to get out of it with a win. Boy, is the US going to miss Ashleigh Johnson when she retires. She was the difference maker in this game. US offense and defense both looked shaky.
Was the US running the double post as much in the first half as the second? New look for them to use it as often as I saw in the second. Anyone know the over/under on total goals in a women’s water polo game? I don’t recall many other games with less than 10 goals total.
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What a fun game to watch. I am really glad that it did not go to a shootout.
Thank goodness for Ashleigh Johnson. She really saved them today.
The Hungarians are a great outside shooting team, but Johnson was either knocking everything down or forcing them to try and be too precise, resulting a a lot of bar outs.
The lack of a great US center was really exposed today. We could not control the middle at all. Krikorian had to resort to driving and setting Steffens, Fattal, Neushul and even Musselman. We ended up drawing 13 exclusions, with Steffens and Neushul responsible for 10 between the two of them, but they were only able to convert on 2.
It will be interesting to see what Krikorian decides to do on Thursday against Australia. Our 6/5s and center play are definitley going to have to improve.
Australia’s goalie is very good and Kearns is going to give the US fits in the middle. Kearns is better than any of the other centers that they played against so far. I think that Steffens and Neushul have been the two most effective center defenders so far, but the US can’t afford to have either one of them in early foul trouble.
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I have a different take: I’ve never seen a game reffed completely conducive to Hungary. Holds, grabs, refs let it go. Playground polo. With that said, an incredible gut it out victory which really impressed me. The physical toughness needed but more importantly, the mental metal you need to not get rattled. Bravo ladies!
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I agree on the reffing–and not just on this game. Noticed the same in the men’s game against Croatia yesterday. Not sure it’s biased–just that they are not calling lots of holds–especially in the backcourt on turnovers. Usually our men do not do well in those games, but did against Croatia. Our women usually do fine, but today was close!
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Re: Steffens and Musselman in the Hungary game. Steffens played all 32 minutes; Musselman played over 30. One personal foul between them–and it’s not because they were not playing defense.
Wow there goes the predictions ! 
What an absolute goal tending clinic! Upset city!
And Serbia beats Greece 11-10
Upsets abound in the first two men’s quarterfinals.
That Serbia-Greece game was tense and the ending was insane.
OK, who had Serbia in their brackets for the semis? 