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Olympic Games Qualification:Advantage Germany and Russia - Macedonia beats home team
On game day 2 of the LEN Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Bratislava, Slovakia the number of potential semi-final aspirants has already gone down In Group A Germany and Russia are still unbeaten; and both teams have achieved the best position on the way to the places 1 and 2. Business as usual went on in Group B: Italy and Montenegro gained clear victories, while Greece had a bye today.

Nine still have to be played in Group A, but you already need upsets or strong performances to stop Russia and Germany. The Germans could earn their third victory tomorrow in the match against underdog Macedonia. Russia is playing Romania in the top match, but Romania has already lost to Germany by three goals and will miss two key players in tomorrow´s games, as Cosmin Radu and Andrei Iosep have been suspended for one match each.
 
Macedonia could still spoil the dish thanks to the 10-8 victory against home team Slovakia, but the newcomer must not loose tomorrow´s game against Germany. The home team has almost missed the semi-finals after two losses in two games, and it is already very difficult to finish top six in the final ranking and to qualify for the FINA Olympic Games Qualification Tournament to be held in March 2008 in Oradea, Romania.
     
In Group B theory looks more promising than reality at the moment. Slovenia and the Netherlands were not able to stop the big three Montenegro, Italy and Greece up to now, so that observers are already waiting for the big clash between Italy and Greece on Friday. Tomorrow night Greece is facing Montenegro, but it is already very difficult to knock out the European B champion thanks to the four-goal-victory against Italy on the opening day.
 
LEN Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Bratislava, Slovakia
    
Preliminary Round draws
   
Group A
Romania
Germany
Russia
Slovakia
France
Macedonia.
  
Group B
Italy
Greece
Netherlands
Slovenia
Montenegro
[Belarus does not participate]
    
    
       
Schedule – day 2
    
Monday, 3 September 2007
11:30 Montenegro vs. Slovenia 19-4 (4-1, 4-1, 6-0, 5-2)  
13:00 Italy vs. Netherlands 10-4 (2-1, 2-1, 3-2, 3-0)  
17:00 France vs. Russia 8-14 (1-5, 2-3, 3-2, 2-4)
18:30 Macedonia vs. Slovakia 10-8 (3-3, 2-0, 1-3, 4-2)
20:00 Romania vs. Germany 7-10 (3-4, 2-3, 1-0, 1-3)
    
  
 
Progress points:
 
Group A: Germany 6 points, Russia 6, Romania 3, Macedonia 3, Slovakia 0, France 0
Group B: Montenegro 6 points/2 games, Greece 3/1, Italy 3/2, Netherlands 0/1, Slovenia 0/2. 
 
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