Water polo, world cup, Italy-Hungary quarter-finals. Damonte: “So we can beat them”

Luca Damonte, a thirty-year-old Genoese from Arenzano, knows Hungary’s strengths and weaknesses more than anyone. Simply because he plays in the Hungarian league with Ferencvaros. The challenge of the quarterfinals at the World Cup in Budapest on Wednesday at 21 takes on a special meaning for him, one on which Sandro Campagna focuses a lot. The defender says that the environmental aspect will have its impact but does not mean starting off beaten. And Luca starts with coded messages (water polo) between Hungarians. Will he be able to anticipate the games of the home champions? “Hungarian is very difficult, it is really a difficult language – he says -. I’m understanding something, words related to water polo. Words like attack, close, shoot, but I don’t think you will feel given the pit that will be there”. Seen from the inside, what is it like to experience a classic of world water polo? “We are excited to play this match. There will be an incredible atmosphere. It will be a match that every player dreams of playing. And we can also win. We don’t play just to participate. There is a chance to win and we will give it all, for us. that’s life”.

How do you experience quasi-national sport here?

“I am in Ferencvaros not in this pool but in another one. Our water polo school has to come out. They are very nationalist in this. They feel strong in this tradition. For this to win it would be nice, to show our strength. Italy is strong. Here in Budapest I feel good, a beautiful, practical city that tastes like water polo. In a beautiful league. But in this case the Hungarians are enemies. There are 5 of my teammates who play for Ferencvaros, I know them. very well, they know me well. But for once there aren’t any friends. But they know it and they will behave the same way. We don’t remember being club mates. We will try to exploit the knowledge we have about them. ” .

“They are very strong, perhaps the strongest team in the World Cup from an individual point of view. We have seen Gergo Zalanki, who plays for Recco. The key is team play. We can exalt ourselves more, help each other more. their qualities maybe relax from that point of view, but we must take the victory with the group “.

How was this experience born?

“When the call came to Hungary I was proud. Like a call from Real Madrid. A league with tradition. I’ll stay for a year then let’s see.”

FAMILY

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Damonte, a Genoese from Arenzano, had an older brother, Francesco, who at the age of 20 lost his life in a road accident together with his partner Nicolò Morena. It was the night of March 5, 2011, a big bump on the A4, near Ospitaletto, was fatal. Francesco dreamed of becoming a champion and also of being a sports journalist. Luca’s father is Luciano (appreciated youth coach) mother Marina is a former player, now a swimming instructor in Arenzano. Luca in Savona won an Under 20 championship and the Euro Cup in 2012. He plays a key role, that of the left-handed. “It is a role in which objectively there is no great abundance in Italy, and this benefits me”. He supports Genoa, but is now immersed in the Hungarian reality: “It’s a good championship, the level is equivalent to the Italian one, with three teams competing for the title.” Finally, within this Settebello he feels good “because we are a good group, there are players who have experience and others who have less. This is a group that will go far”. Clearer than that.

The program – Wednesday. Men. Quarter-finals: 13 Greece-USA, 16 Serbia-Croatia, 19.30 Spain-Montenegro, 21 Hungary-Italy. Direct TV Rai 2-Rai Sport.