Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Spain march on, Hungary out for the 1st time since 1991

For the first time since 1991 Hungary will be missing from the semi-finals of the men’s tournament at the European Water Polo Championships: the Magyar side was ousted by the Olympic champion Serbian team with ease. Another eternal classic is due instead: Serbia will play Croatia since the world champions managed to overcome Montenegro. Italy also reached the semis after another outstanding display of defending against Russia. Spain blew away Greece with a 137sec whirlwind when a 4-0 rush decided the outcome of the last quarter-final.

9 IVOVIC Aleksandar MNE CRO – MNE Croatia (white caps) vs Montenegro (blue caps) Men Barcelona 24/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter-finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

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3 VAN DER BOSCH Timo GER GER – FRA Germany (white caps) vs France (blue caps) Men Barcelona 24/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Semifinals 9-12 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

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3 VAN DER BOSCH Timo GER GER – FRA Germany (white caps) vs France (blue caps) Men Barcelona 24/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Semifinals 9-12 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

11 ECHENIQUE Gonzalo ITA ITA – RUS Italia (white caps) vs Russia (blue caps) Men Barcelona 24/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter-finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

4 FIGLIOLI Pietro ITA, 1 FEDOTOV Petr RUS (Red Cap) ITA – RUS Italia (white caps) vs Russia (blue caps) Men Barcelona 24/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter-finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

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Team Turkey TUR – MLT Turkey (white caps) vs Malta (blue caps) Men Barcelona 24/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Final 15th-16th place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

3 FATOVIC Loren W CRO 5 RADOVIC Duro W MNE CRO – MNE Croatia (white caps) vs. Montenegro (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Head Coach TUCAK Ivica CRO CRO – MNE Croatia (white caps) vs. Montenegro (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

2 GENIDOUNIAS K. GRE 5 FOUNTOULIS Ioannis (C) GRE 3 GRANADOS ORTEGA Alv FP ESP ESP – GRE Spain (white caps) vs. Greece (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

3 GRANADOS ORTEGA Alv FP ESP 6 KAPOTSIS Marios GRE ESP – GRE Spain (white caps) vs. Greece (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

ESP – Spain Team ESP – GRE Spain (white caps) vs. Greece (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

6 LINDHOUT Robin FP NED NED – ROU Netherlands (white caps) vs. Romania (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Semifinals 9th – 12th 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

10 JANSSEN Pascal AR NED 7 PRIOTEASA Andrei D ROU NED – ROU Netherlands (white caps) vs. Romania (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Semifinals 9th – 12th 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

6 JELACA Marko GEO celebration GEO – SVK Georgia (white caps) vs. Slovakia (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Final 13th – 14th place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

4 URADNIK Michal SVK 3 TSREPULIA Damir GEO GEO – SVK Georgia (white caps) vs. Slovakia (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Men Final 13th – 14th place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

1 DEL LUNGO Marco ITA (Red Cap) ITA – RUS Italy (white caps) vs. Russia (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Italy Team CAMPAGNA Sandro ITA – RUS Italy (white caps) vs. Russia (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

9 ERDELYI Balazs HUN SRB – HUN Serbia (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

10 FILIPOVIC Filip SRB celebrates 10 BATORI Bence HUN SRB – HUN Serbia (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

9 ERDELYI Balazs HUN 6 MEZEI Tamas HUN SRB – HUN Serbia (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

5 VAMOS Marton HUN SRB – HUN Serbia (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

8 GALLO Valentino ITA celebration esultanza ITA – RUS Italy (white caps) vs. Russia (blue caps) Barcelona 24/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

The writing was already on the wall for the Hungarians after their sometimes embarrassing performances till now – a heavy defeat against Italy and struggling against Germany and the Netherlands –, and they couldn’t do any miracles in the quarters. Facing Serbia with 11 Olympic champion players from Rio didn’t promise too much for this young and inexperienced Hungarian side – after the first period it became inevitable that a mighty march would finish in Barcelona. The record-winning 12-time champion nation always made the semi-finals since 1991, that run was halted here.

The Serbs took a flying start, won the first period 4-0 and they just kept the distance in the remaining three. The Magyars were unable to create clear scoring chances, their defence at least began to work so when they finally managed to put away the ball from their fifth man-up after 15:36 minutes (24 seconds before the middle break), the Serbs were only 5-0 up. The second half was balanced, twice the Hungarians came back to three goals but the response arrived immediately from the other side, showing that the Serbs’ win was never in danger.

Though this game lacked the usual tensions, the next one will perhaps not as the Serbs will face arch-rival Croatia in the semis. The Croats outpowered the Montenegrins in the second QF. Montenegro controlled the game in the first half, led 2-4, had a man-up to break three goals clear in the third, then had a shot at 3-5 but missed both chances. Soon the Croats caught them in 74 seconds and held on for 6-6 before the last break.

And they rolled on in the fourth, in a span of 2:32 minutes the world champions netted three goals for a 9-6 lead and from here there was no way back for the Montenegrins who seemed to run out from gas for the finish. In the last ten minutes they could score only one goal, thus they have to settle for the 5-8th places (in 2016 they played the final with the Serbs), while the Croats return to the top flight after 2010.

When Italy beat Germany 14-1 in the opening round, many thought that besides their tremendous efforts in defence the German’s bad day also contributed to the strange result. Well, now it was repeated, in the quarters, where the Italians limited the Russians a single goal (11-1). That arrived deep into the third period when the Settebello was already 7-0 up. They were truly outstanding in front of their goal (Russia was 1 for 15 in man-ups, including two 6 on 4s), and Marco del Lungo’s hand reached everywhere – he finished the game with 93.3% (14 saves on 15 shots), including a saved penalty.

Dani Lopez was close to his Italian colleague, after the third period the Spanish goalie stood with 13 saves on 16 shots for 83.3% – and his team led 8-3 against the Greeks. The first half was a battle of the equals, the Greek climbed back from 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 and at 4-3 they had three man-ups but missed all – and this cost them dearly. In a span of 2:17 minutes the Spanish won the match as they scored four goals from four successive possessions while the Greeks crashed under the pressure, their otherwise lethal weapon didn’t work this evening, at one stage in the fourth there were 2 for 10 in man-ups.

Spain paraded and completed the clean sweep for this day when only teams wearing the white caps won the matches – and returns to the semis after 2006. Thus the hosts became the only nation here with both its teams reaching the semis. From historical perspective, the second men’s SF featuring Italy and Spain is going to be another mouth-watering clash on Thursday – 26 years after their famous Olympic final played in the same pool.

In the matches played for the 9-12th positions Germany and the Netherlands earned easy victories over France and Romania respectively. Georgia hit back to Slovakia for the defeat two years ago and finished 13th, and Turkey did the same with Malta: just as in Belgrade, the penalties decided the 15th place but this time the Turks prevailed in the shootout.

European Water Polo Championships, Day 11

Men’s quarter-finals
Serbia v Hungary 8-5
Croatia v Montenegro 9-7
Italy v Russia 11-1
Spain v Greece 10-6

For places 9-12th
Netherlands v Slovakia 12-7
Germany v France 12-5

For places 13-14th
Georgia v Romania 8-6

For places 15-16th
Turkey v Malta 7-7, penalties: 6-5

Semi-finals on 26 July
20.30 Serbia v Croatia
22.00 Italy v Spain

Fixtures, Day 12

Women’s semi-finals
17.00 Netherlands v Hungary
18.30 Greece v Spain

For places 5-8th
13.15 Germany v Italy
14.45 Russia v France

Press release from LEN, photos courtesy of Deepbluemedia/Giorgio Scala

Greece, Hungary advance as Russia and Italy pay the final penalty

Penalties were in the spotlight in the two crucial quarterfinals in the women’s tournament at the European Water Polo Championships in Barcelona. Greece overcame Russia in a shootout and returns to the semis after 2012, while Hungary’s goalie stopped one against Italy in the dying seconds to secure the title-holders’ spot in the SF. Italy didn’t make the top four at the women’s Europeans for the first time in history. 2014 champion Spain and 2016 runner-up Netherlands enjoyed an easy cruising to the semis while beating France and Germany respectively.

1 RATKOVIC Alexandra CRO (Red Cap), 3 BURALI Dilara TUR CRO – TUR Croatia (white caps) vs Turkey (blue caps) Women Barcelona 23/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Final 11th-12th place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

9 DESCHAMPT Yaelle FRA, 12 LEITON Paula ESP FRA – ESP France (white caps) vs Spain (blue caps) Women Barcelona 23/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

11 GARCIA Maica ESP FRA – ESP France (white caps) vs Spain (blue caps) Women Barcelona 23/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

12 FELIX Abigail ISR ISR – SRB Israel (white caps) vs Serbia (blue caps) Women Barcelona 23/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Final 9th-10th place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

1 PERES Ayelet ISR (Red Cap) ISR – SRB Israel (white caps) vs Serbia (blue caps) Women Barcelona 23/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Final 9th-10th place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

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10 KOOLHAAS Ilse NED NED – GER Netherlands (white caps) vs Germany (blue caps) Women Barcelona 23/07/18 Piscines Bernat Picornell Quarter Finals 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

5 LORDAN Dina (C) W CRO CRO – TUR Croatia (white caps) vs. Turkey (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Final 11th – 12th Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

7 OZGUMUS Zeynep Ece W TUR 4 BALIC Tereza CF CRO CRO – TUR Croatia (white caps) vs. Turkey (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Final 11th – 12th Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

SRB – Team Serbia ISR – SRB Israel (white caps) vs. Serbia (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Final 9th – 10th Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

SRB – Team Serbia ISR – SRB Israel (white caps) vs. Serbia (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Final 9th – 10th Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

1 GORLERO Giulia GK ITA 5 QUEIROLO Elisa (C) W ITA ITA – HUN Italy (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Qarter Finals Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

3 GARIBOTTI Arianna FP ITA ITA – HUN Italy (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Qarter Finals Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

HUN – Team Hungary ITA – HUN Italy (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Qarter Finals Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

ITA – Team Italy ITA – HUN Italy (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Qarter Finals Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

5 SZUCS Gabriella FP HUN ITA – HUN Italy (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Qarter Finals Place 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Pasquale Mesiano/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

FRA – SPA Francia (white caps) vs. Spagna (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Quarter Finals Qualification 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

3 DIAMANTOPOULOU Vasiliki GRE 6 GORBUNOVA Olga RUS GRE – RUS Greece (white caps) vs. Russia (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Quarter Finals Qualification 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Dejection Team RUSSIA GRE – RUS Greece (white caps) vs. Russia (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Quarter Finals Qualification 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

Celebration Victory Greece 4 ELEFTHERIADOU Nikoleta GRE 1 DIAMANTOPOULOU Chrysoula GRE (Red Cap) 6 AVRAMIDOU Alkistis GRE 12 XENAKI Eleni GRE 11 PLEVRITOU Eleftheria GRE GRE – RUS Greece (white caps) vs. Russia (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Quarter Finals Qualification 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

5 SZUCS Gabriella HUN 2 SZILAGYI Dorottya HUN celebration ITA – HUN Italy (white caps) vs. Hungary (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Quarter Finals Qualification 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

7 SERZHANTOVA Alena RUS 4 ELEFTHERIADOU Nikoleta GRE 7 ASIMAKI Alexandra GRE GRE – RUS Greece (white caps) vs. Russia (blue caps) Barcelona 23/07/2018 Piscines Bernat Picornell Women Quarter Finals Qualification 33rd LEN European Water Polo Championships – Barcelona 2018 Photo Andrea Staccioli/Deepbluemedia/Insidefoto

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Apart from Spain’s four-goal win on the opening day against Hungary, the matches of the top six teams were all decided by a single goal in the prelims (if it wasn’t a tie) – and the trend continued in the quarters.

Greece needed 11:06 minutes to get on the scoreboard but once they scored their first – Russia could gain a 0-1 lead in this phase –, they started rolling and deep into the third they were 4-1 up. However, Russia responded the same way, after a drought lasting 14:54 minutes they netted four unanswered goals to take over the lead once more at 5-4, with 3:57 to go. But the Greeks also found their way back, in 55 seconds Nikoleta Eleftheriadou converted a man-up then sent a magnificent lob to the Russian net (this was her third) and led 6-5 with 1:38 from time. Russia went all-in, earned back-to-back 6 on 5s and finally Olga Gorbunova equalised with 27 seconds remaining.

The decision was left to the penalties: the shootout earned the Russians the Olympic berth two years ago, apparently against Greece, and the Olympic bronze against Hungary – but this time the Greeks prevailed. Alena Sherzantova hit the post in the second round, it was the only miss but it meant that the Russians will miss the semis once more after 2016, while the Greeks return to the top flight after 2012.

The next QF was just as thrilling and as hotly contested as any game between Italy and Hungary. It was a match of twists and turns, the results of the quarters show something from the story: 3-1, 1-4, 4-1, 1-4 – but reality was even more exciting. The first big turn came in the second period when Hungary netted three straight goals to go 4-5 up after being 4-2 down and they added a fine action goal from their first possession in the third to lead 4-6. The next twist arrived soon: Italy made the most of their man-ups while Rita Keszthelyi missed a penalty at 7-6 and Arianna Garibotti netted her fourth goal to give Italy an 8-6 lead before the last break.

After a quick exchange of goals Italy was still 9-7 ahead and few would have guessed that they couldn’t score any more in the remaining 5:30 minutes. Dorottya Szilagyi stepped up for the Magyars, her two blasts brought the sides to even with 2:03 to go. The Hungarians killed an Italian man-up, then Rita Keszthelyi showed the best quality of a true leader, leaving behind the demons of the missed penalty she drove herself towards the goal, managed to collect a lengthy ball, and sent it home with an incredible back-handed shot among three defenders, to complete a 0-3 Hungarian rush with 29 seconds remaining.

But there was one more twist in the story: just ten seconds on, Italy earned a penalty. Their best shooter, LEN Award winner Roberta Bianconi took the ball but Edina Gangl guessed the side right in the goal, caught the ball and sent the Magyars into their fourth straight semi-finals. On the contrary, Italy missed the semis for the first time ever in the women’s Europeans since they entered the competition in 1989 (the Hungarians missed the SF only twice).

The other two matches lacked the same tensions, the two group-winners Spain and the Netherlands did a clean job as expected. Only the margin of their wins was in the question against France and Germany, though the hosts were bit too tense and France fought bravely in the opening period, but after 2-2 the Spaniards produced a 5-0 rush in the second to settle the match.

The games for the lower ranks offered some thrills earlier, Croatia beat Turkey for the 11th place while the 9th place was decided by penalties too. Serbia was a bit luckier, buried two shots while Israel could score only once.

European Championships, Day 10
Women’s quarter-finals
Greece v Russia 6-6, penalties: 5-4
Italy v Hungary 9-10
Netherlands v Germany 22-2
France v Spain 5-14

Semi-finals (on 25 July)
17.00 Netherlands v Hungary
18.30 Greece v Spain

For places 9-10th
Israel v Serbia 4-4, penalties: 1-2

For places 11-12th
Croatia v Turkey 11-6

Fixtures, Day 11

Men’s quarter-finals
17.00 Serbia v Hungary
18.30 Croatia v Montenegro
20.30 Italy v Russia
22.00 Spain v Greece

For places 9-12th
13.30 Romania v Netherlands
15.00 Germany v France

For places 13-14th
12.00 Georgia v Slovakia

For places 15-16th
10.30 Turkey v Malta

Press release from LEN, photos courtesy of Deepbluemedia/Giorgio Scala