Water polo: Erzsebet Valkai, Italy

Erzsebet Valkai is an engaging, friendly woman who speaks five languages. She also is a dreaded Italian water polo player, a member of a team that has built a reputation as one of the most brutish in the world.

“Anybody but Italy,” said one Australian when describing who she likes to play against.

But the top-ranked United States had no choice Wednesday night at Ying Tung Natatorium.

A taut match ended in a 9-9 tie when Italy’s Elisa Casanova scored with 22 seconds left.

Valkai, 29, played for Hungary in the Athens Games. After marrying an Italian she switched allegiances and joined the 2004 silver medalists. Her analysis of the Italian style: The women aren’t as big, so they do what they can to equalize the situation.

“We pull each other’s swim suits, we kick, we hit,” said Valkai, whose sister Agnes plays for the Hungarian Olympic team. “I think it is almost a different kind of sport than men’s water polo. I don’t think we are the hardest team. We are smaller, we are not so strong.”

San Jose Mercury News