A week before traveling to the Fukuoka World Cups, Bea Ortiz, one of the leaders of the Spanish water polo team, commented that beating the United States was in their heads, that they saw it closer than ever, that the key was to believe it. There were signs. This 2022-23 season, those led by Adam Krikoriac, the legendary and award-winning coach, had already lost two games against Spain and the semifinals of the World League finals last November in Tenerife against Hungary. Something unusual. But what seemed like an accident has now turned into a collision. Italy has left the Americans out of the Fukuoka World Cups in the quarterfinals (7-8).
The surprise is great because of the streak that the Americans had, who accumulated three Olympic golds in a row and four world golds. In fact, the last time they lost a tie was exactly ten years ago at the World Cups in Barcelona, when precisely Spain eliminated them on the magical night of July at the Picornell pools. Now it has been in the cold (because of the atmosphere in the stands) Fukuoka, in a match even until the end that has brought out the best in the Italians and that clears the way to gold for the applicants. Spain, which is on the other side of the table, faces Hungary at 12:30 p.m. in search of fighting for that medal that it already achieved precisely in 2013.
The United States was only ahead early in the game with a goal from Musselman, one of the best scorers in the world who did not have the day and missed nine of 11 shots. Then Italy turned the game around. “This is the true Setterosa – exclaims Carlo Silipo, the Italian coach – and I am proud to train him. We put our heart, character and head into it. We are happy, but it does not end here, also because the first Olympic passes will only be for the finalists”he commented as soon as the match at Gazzetta dello Sport concluded.
Italy began to believe it and went 2-3 at the end of the first quarter, but the United States, held by Maggie Steffens, author of four goals, arrived with a tie in the last quarter. Italy, which was better in the superiorities and gave its best in defense, took a game that tastes like gold for the moral victory, for the rush and because it broke one of the most Himalayan challenges in water sports. America is already vulnerable.