Montenegro boss says can win without Serbia

Montenegro, Olympic water polo silver medallists four years ago while competing with Serbia, can repeat their Athens feat without their former compatriots, the team's coach said on Monday.

Petar Porobic said Montenegro's split from Serbia had strengthened his side and the world's newest team had proven everyone wrong by winning the European championships in July.

"Nobody expected we would put together a decent team after we separated," Porobic told Reuters after Montenegro advanced to the quarter-finals of the men's tournament.

"It was only two years ago we split, people thought we would be weak. Now, the team is even better. I think it's easier, we have a strong chance here."

Montenegro seceded from Serbia in May 2006 after a referendum on independence for the country of 650,000 people.

Serbia and Montenegro had been formed only three years earlier from the remnants of the former Yugoslavia.

Porobic has cobbled together one of the world's strongest teams from only three water polo clubs -- Jadran, Primorac and Budvanska Rivijera.

"Now, we've shown our power. They didn't think we would be good, but we are now an excellent team," he added. "We are the champions of Europe. We have a very good chance of a medal now."

Serbia also advanced to the quarter-final stage on Monday, while the United States and Hungary progressed to the semi-finals as group winners.

Serbia and Montenegro could meet in the gold medal match if they both win their next two games.