London 2012 Water Polo: Men’s Tournament Day #2 – 1

Every water polo fan was expecting Group B, which includes the likes of Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia and the United States, to be the classic “group of death”. Perhaps, only a few could predict the second consecutive loss of Hungary, Olympic gold medal holders. The Magyars lost to Montenegro in the second match day of men’s tournament at the London Games.

By Simone Pierotti

Always forced to fill the gap in terms of scored goals, the team coached by Dénes Kémeny had the opportunity to equalise in the last minute, but the counterattack shot by Dénes Varga was saved.

This second defeat in a row does not compromise the qualification for the next round, yet it is quite resounding to see the reigning champions to fail to win in the first two games.

Has Hungary’s hegemony at the Olympics come to an end? It is still early for such a statement, but it is unquestionable the Magyars have not shone as they did through the first decade of the new millennium. The fact that four out of 10 goals were scored by veterans Péter Biros and Tamás Kásás, both aged 36, appears to underline that the generation turnover is still in progress.Read more: