Story by Jon Nio

Singapore Sports School, Friday, August 1, 2008 – Croatia and Germany played out a 7-7 draw in the Pre-Olympic Water Polo invitational at the Singapore Sports School on Day 2.

Croatia and Germany are scheduled to play each other in the preliminary rounds at the Beijing Olympics. As in their first match, Croatia started fresh and sharp by rounding off their first two attacks for a quick 2-0 lead. The German goalkeeper Tchigir kept his team in the game with some nice saves and an extra-man situation gave Germany a goal to reduce the deficit to 1-2.

Both teams where not tidy in the second quarter, resulting in extra-man situations and chances for both sides. Both teams scored one goal and Croatian led 3-2 score half time.

Croatia started strong in the 3rd quarter and opened the scoring again to make it 4-2 but the Croatian offense slowed after they took a 5-2 lead. The ‘never-say-die' attitude of the German equips kept Stamm's players in the game and they soon made it 5-5.

After a quick Croatian reply that saw them regain the lead at 6-5, Germany replied through Marc Politze and Marko Stamm - son of the head coach - for Germany to lead 7-6 for the first time in the game with two minutes left. Croatia bombarded the German goal with long-distance attempts and were rewarded when Mile Smodlaka scored to share the honours at 7-7.

In the second match of the day, European champions Montenegro beat Italy 10-5.

Match stats and lineups:
Croatia vs Germany
(2:1, 3:2, 5:4, 7:7)

Croatia: Frano Vican; Damir Buric; Andro Buslje (1); Zdeslav Vrdoljak; Aljosa Kunac; Maro Jokovic; Mile Smodlaka (2); Teo Dogas (2); Pavo Markovic; Samir Barac (1); Igor Hinic; Miho Boskovic (1); Josip Pavic; Niksa Dobud
COACH: Ratko Rudic

Germany: Alexander Tchigir; Florian Naroska (1); Julian Real; Marko Savic (1); Marko Stamm (1); Marc Politze (2); Heiko Nossek; Thomas Schwertwitis; Tobias Kreuzmann; Moritz Oeler; Andreas Schlotterbeck (1); Soren Mackeben; Michael Zellmer; Eric Bukowsk(1)i; Timo Purschke
COACH: Hagan Stamm

Referees: Mario Bruguljan and Michael Hart

Montenegro vs Italy
(2:0, 3:2, 7:3, 10:5)

Montenegro: Zdravko Radic, Drasko Brguljan (1), Vjekoslav Paskovic, Nikola Vukcevic (1), Nikola Janovic (1), Milan Ticic, Mjadlan Janovic (3), Veljko Uskokovic, Aleksandar Ivovic (1), Damjan Danilovic, Vladimir Gojkovic (1), Pedrag Jokic, Milos Scepanovic
COACH: Petar Porobic

Italy: Stefano Tempesti; Valentino Gallo; Leonardo Binchi; Fabrizio Buonocore; Luigi di Constanzo (1); Maurizio Felugo; Andrea Mangiante (1); Alberto Angellini; Fabio Bencivenga; Alessandro Calcaterra (1); Leonardo Sottani (1); Federico Mistrangelo (1); Fabio Violetti
COACH: Paolo Malara

Referees: Mladen Rak and Thomas Schluenz