The European Water Polo Championships in Belgrade, 2026, are heating up as we dive into Day 8! But will the favorites continue their reign, or will we witness some shocking upsets?
Group F: Georgia vs. Italy
The Italian team aims to keep their flawless record intact before facing Greece and Croatia. Interestingly, Georgia has been drawn with Italy in every European Championship since their qualification, and the results have been one-sided. Since 2014, Italy has dominated with scores like 15-5, 21-1, and 22-5. Despite a close World League qualifier in 2017 (13-12), Italy's overall record is impressive at 9-0. A fun stat: Italy led Group F in offense, scoring 56 goals and taking 117 shots, but their shooting percentage (47.9%) was only 5th.
Group F: Greece vs. Türkiye
Following their thrilling victory over Croatia, Greece anticipates a less challenging match against Türkiye, who made history by reaching this stage. These teams first met at the 2016 European Championships, with Greece dominating 21-6. Their subsequent encounter in 2018 ended in a Greek rout, 27-1. The coaches, Theodoros Vlachos (Greece) and Konstantinos Loudis (Türkiye), share a unique bond as fellow Greeks born in 1969, debuting together at the 1989 European Championships. While Vlachos' playing career was brief, Loudis became a national team mainstay until 2003. As coaches, their paths diverged, with Vlachos leading Greece for 14 seasons, while Loudis recently joined Türkiye, already making his mark.
Group F: Croatia vs. Romania
Croatia is under pressure, needing three wins to secure a semi-final spot. Romania has a slim chance, but it's an uphill battle. Croatia's overall record is solid, but their head-to-head with Romania is surprisingly even, with two wins and two losses. Romania caused an upset in 1993, Croatia's debut as an independent nation, finishing 4th while Croatia missed the semis. Croatia's worst-ever finish at the Europeans also involved Romania. Despite Croatia's recent win at the Paris Olympics (11-8), the head-to-head history adds intrigue.
Classification Matches: Slovenia vs. Israel & Slovakia vs. Malta
Slovenia, after earning points against Slovakia, aims higher against winless Israel. Meanwhile, Slovakia, with one point from a shootout loss, faces Malta, who beat Israel in the first round. These matches hold significance for lower-ranked teams.
Controversial Prediction: Could we see an underdog triumph in Group F? Will Croatia's quest for the semi-finals be derailed? Stay tuned as the action unfolds in Belgrade!
Catch all the excitement on Eurovision Sport and follow European Aquatics on social media for live updates. The stage is set for some thrilling water polo encounters!
