Well here’s a first, an Italian just got a warning for simulation after a VAR review instead of the Hungarian player getting kicked out of the game.
I’m not convinced the Australians didn’t almost steal a win executing their game plan. I think they wanted to turn that game into something messy and low scoring and that’s what it was. That’s been the blueprint to beat the US for so long: keep it physical and let them react and retaliate. Pavillard very nearly won that for them in regulation.
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I don’t understand why he didn’t take on a larger role in the game. With those two shots at the end he shot 4/4. The rest of the squad shot 3/23
So US-Serbia in the semis. A Serbia-Croatia semi would have been wild.
We really need a game plan for Mandic. He will destroy us if we give him a centimeter of space
Is there any team playing defense as well as USA now? They will advance to the final.
At the end of the first half of Italy -Hungary, the ref appears to have called a bizarre brutality on an Italian shooter’s followthrough (he scored the goal). Going to be a chippy second half. Italy still a man down…
This Italy-Hungary game has just been so weird. I am baffled by the brutality call on that shot. Not to mention the 3 other times they’ve done VAR. Just a poorly officiated contest and really not enjoyable to watch.
Serbia literally has just three horses: Mandic, Jaksic, and Cuk. Their goal tending is suspect. Too bad (for them) that Mitrovic is not playing. I cannot see how Serbia can beat this USA team, unless of course US keeps doing very badly on 6 on 5, and keep getting boneheaded brutalities.
Just tuned in to Italy-Hungary as Italy tied. I smell another shoot out coming up. I hear you all on a PSO avoiding a game decided by a referee’s bad call, but with VAR we have some protection from that. The problem with a PSO is that it is not a test of water skills–it’s only a test of shooting and goal keeping. Defense, offensive movement, passing, field blocking, etc. are no longer in the mix. We don’t settle basketball games with free throws; we don’t settle baseball games with a home-run derby or by lining up all the pitchers to see who can hit the strike zone–we play out the game. I get it in prelim rounds–and the points given in pool play reflect the difference between a water polo win and a PSO win. In games with higher stakes, we should respect the game and play it out.
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What a nutty day of Polo. Perhaps worse call ever on Italy on that brutality on a follow through of a shot. Then they miss 3 penalties to lose. Is there a chance this goes to protest? It actually did not really affect the game much as Italy outscored Hungary by 1 during the 4 minutes but I would think they will protest any way.
My prediction avg is all time low of .25.
Now, who do you put on Mandic? Cupido?
Put Cupido on Mandic. If Cupido plays at the same high level as in the previous games, I do not see Mandic winning the game for Serbia. Also, Serbs do not have a dominant center - another reason for letting Cupido defend Mandic.
I don’t think that is protestable, but they lost one of their best players FOR SCORING A GOAL. You can see him saying “How? How? How could I have stopped?” Unbelievable. Agree - an all time bad call. Even crazier that it was done via VAR.
I think Luca probably is best equipped with the physicality to match Mandic, but it will be a group effort. Hannes will probably end up with that matchup quite a bit as well given where both of them normally play.
If somebody had told me in 2021 that Spain and Greece would win their groups in Paris- I would have completely believed it. But them losing in 1/4 finals ? This is totally nuts.
P.S. I doubt that Daube can defend Mandic. On a bright side, nobody on the Serbian side, including Jaksic, can defend Hallock 
This could be the tournament for the US! Can’t believe Spain, Italy, and Greece all lost.
I feel bad for Hooper, we would really benefit from his speed in the semi final game. We are by far the fastest, best defensive team left in the running.
Would like to see Dejan use the Dodd brothers more, even if to burn their tanks and tell them to swim 2 to 2 for 3 minutes straight. We saw the Australian team by the end, barely getting past half tank.
It’s the US’s to lose at this point
Just caught replay. Wow, Australia fell apart, 19 minutes no score, Weinberg better than Porter today. To add to swimcoach “Karma”, Porter early trash talk didn’t equate to scoreboard
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Vavic’s 2 meter defense this tournament has been stellar. I’d say easily our best defender. He missed a bunny on a 6 on 5 early in the 3rd but made up for it. An unsung guy who could be an ex factor as we play teams with better sets. He came up clutch in the penalty shootout as we all know!
Against Serbia, Mandic is going to eat & score there’s no stopping him but if we make him work for it & tire him out we have a shot.
Need a similar team defensive performance as we had today against them. Don’t think we can get into a high scoring shootout with them but we are for sure faster up & down the tank; even sadly without Hooper
Can’t say enough positive about Weinberg. What a hell of a job he has done and gutsy and good call by Dejan to play him.
Watched that “violent action” call against Italy several times last night. I think there are two key questions. The first is straightforward, but also in the eye of the beholder, which is whether the punch (and there was a punch) was made with “malicious intent”. If not, it was striking–WP 22.12, an exclusion foul. If so, it’s WP 22.14, violent action. I think the punch was clear enough that one of the other should have been called. The choice between them–whether the player shoed malicious intent, is a matter of judgement by the referee. (Another option might have been to call this “persistent foul play” and issue a red card.)
The more interesting question is whether the goal should have counted. If that’s a punch with malicious intent, I think t’s an action after the shot was released. So should the goal count, since the foul was (at least arguably) a dead time foul after the goal was scored? If it’s just striking, the foul is an over aggressive continuation of the shooting motion. So should the goal count?
Tee this one up for the FINA Rules Committee–or a discussion over beers. I don’t think there is a clear black and white answer. I am pretty sure it’s a referee’s judgement call, and therefore not appealable.
Also, I think I am seeing the first glimmers of praise for Dejan I have ever seen on WPP or here. 
I’m not sure it’s justified–I think a big part of where the US sits right now is down to luck and a team that had a good game at the right time. But it’s good to see. Presumably the Dejan bashing will resume if the US loses the semi, and maybe even if they win it but lose the gold medal game.
re: The coverage of Water Polo. IMHO, it has been incredible. Sure Peacock does the frustrating ad thing, the aus announcer misses some things, and the camera has panned into the wrong part of the pool. But ! Every single game has been on TV (Web) with announcers and also available after for re-watching in HD with multiple angles / cameras. I feel that has been the best coverage in any olympics or large water polo event for that matter.
Yes, the bar is low, but let’s hope the NCAA can figure out how to get some semblance of decent coverage this year.
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Agree! Sure there have a been a few lapses but, when comparing this tournament’s coverage to Olympics’ past, overall it has been a joy to see so many angles, perspectives and replays, generally, provided so far.
As for the refs, the sport is still clearly the most difficult to officiate. Some say basketball. Not close.
And re Weinberg, am so glad he has been given the nod to start. Seems he has a higher ceiling and simmering resolve which seems to quietly inspire his teammates (if one can read minds while watching through a television set!)
Really nice to see the US play up to its potential and the bracket has opened up a gift of opportunity for the team. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s match!
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