Spain dominates host country Croatia to win first European men’s water polo title
Croatia’s storied European men’s water polo championship was eight minutes away from a happy ending. Then Spain intervened and destroyed the party.
Alvaro Granados Spain scored the last three goals to overwhelm Croatia 11-10 in the European Men’s Water Polo Championship final in Zagreb on Tuesday, scoring twice in the fourth quarter to win its first European Championship.
Reigning champions Croatia led by as many as three goals and held a 10-8 lead at the end of the third quarter.but Bernat Sanafja They brought Spain within 10-9 midway through the quarter. Granados tied it with 1:38 left and brought home the winner 50 seconds later. Eduardo Lorio He came on as a substitute in the fourth game and stopped all three shots, giving Spain a chance to pull away.
Alejandro Bastos blocked Lauren Fatovich’s With three seconds remaining, an extra player took a shot and Spain preserved the victory.
Granados and Sanafuja each had a hat trick, with Granados adding an assist. Alberto Munaris He scored 2 points. Spain won despite making only 3 of 19 shots from 6 meters.
Luka Vukic He scored four goals for Croatia. Marco Zubera and Dzerko Marinic Kragić They each scored twice. Marco Bijac He scored great goals, stopping 14 of 25 shots.
Last summer, Spain defeated Serbia to win the bronze medal at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Croatia finished in a disappointing 9th place in the tournament.
Three-time world champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, Spain won its first ever European Championship. The Spaniard had medaled in each of the previous three competitions, but had missed out on three gold medals.
Croatia were fighting for their third European Championship. Croatia has reached at least the semi-finals in 11 of the past 15 tournaments.
Italy won the bronze medal with a 12-7 victory over reigning world champions Hungary. marco del lungo He made nine saves as the Italians ran away with an 8-3 lead at halftime. andrea fondelli Shooting was 3-for-3. Oscar Gonzalo Echenik Added a hat trick Giacomo Canella He scored 2 points.
Vince Vigvari He led Hungary with three goals.
Greece scored 4 goals Konstantinos Henidunias In the match for fifth place, they defeated Montenegro 15-10. Nikolaos Gilas He added a hat trick to the world championship silver medalist.
Serbia defeated Romania 18-7 to take seventh place. Dusan Mandic and Dorde Lazic They each made 4-of-4 field goal shots. Marko Radulovic He recorded 2 goals and 3 assists.