Serbian water polo coach promises 2012 success after world gold

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Rome

SERBIA claimed a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory in the men's water polo final at the World Championships in Rome.

VICTORY: Serbia's Andrija Prlainovic shoots during the final of the men's water polo at the World Championships in Rome - his side beat Spain on penalties

A capacity crowd at the Foro Italico lapped up every second of an engaging encounter that was close throughout.

Serbia opened up a two-goal advantage in the final quarter and looked on course for a regulation win, with goalkeeper Slobodan Soro in inspired form.

But Spain hit back with a double strike from Xavier Garcia - including a goal just 11 seconds from the end which forced extra time.

Both teams traded a goal in overtime and the match was concluded with a tense shoot-out that went to sudden death before Serbia triumphed 7-6.

It left coach Dejan Udovicic crowing and talking up his team's chances of success at London 2012 - after winning silver in Beijing 12 months ago.

"We have twice won the world and the European Championships," he said.

"Our next goal is the London 2012 Olympic Games where almost 80 per cent of the players will be still part of the team.

"And even if many important players left I still expect to win.

"I'm still surprised about all the question marks that keep raising around my team. My players and I believed we could do good things."

Captain Vanja Udovic also believes the victory could start an era of Serbian water polo dominance.

"This is surely the most beautiful victory we have ever achieved," he said.

"We are the youngest team of the tournament and I am really happy to be the captain of this team.

"It's hard to talk right now. We have just made an extraordinary thing.

"We defeated all the strongest teams in the world, playing with only 12 players."

Spanish coach Rafael Aguilar paid tribute to Udovicic but insisted his team were making progress.

“Silver always has a bittersweet taste,” he said.

“But since Melbourne two years ago, when we clinched bronze, we have made another step forward.

“We won the first match against Serbia, they won the second."

“In the past four years we have been working very hard. The final was very balanced. We won at the penalty shoot-out in Melbourne, we lost at the penalty shoot-out here and that is the way it goes.” 

Elsewhere, Croatia defeated the USA, the Olympic silver medallists, 8-6 to win the bronze medal.