Belgrade 2026: European Water Polo Championships - Day 8 Match Previews
The men's European Water Polo Championships are underway in Belgrade, with the eighth day of action bringing a host of intriguing matches. Here's a breakdown of the key contests on the schedule:
Group F: Italy's Dominance Continues
15:30 - Georgia vs. Italy
Italy is on a mission to maintain its flawless record in Group F. Since Georgia's debut in the European Championships in 2014, they've faced off against each other in every edition, with Italy consistently proving too strong. The results speak for themselves: 15-5 in 2014, 21-1 in 2016, 14-3 in 2018, 18-6 in 2020, 18-8 in 2022, and 22-5 in 2024. Italy's dominance is further emphasized by their offensive prowess, leading the group with 56 goals and 117 shots, despite having the fifth-highest shooting percentage at 47.9%.
Greece vs. Türkiye: A Special Evening for Coaches
18:00 - Greece vs. Türkiye
The Greeks, fresh off their thrilling victory over Croatia, will look to continue their winning streak against Türkiye. The Turks have a history of playing in classification matches for lower ranks, but their advancement to this stage is a testament to their resilience. This match will be a special one for the coaches, Theodoros Vlachos of Greece and Konstantinos Loudis of Türkiye. Both are fellow Greeks and share a birthday (1969), and they made their European Championship debut together in 1989. While Vlachos' playing career was limited, Loudis became a key player for Greece until 2003. As coaches, their contrasting journeys are fascinating, with Vlachos in his 14th season with Greece and Loudis recently taking charge of the Turkish team.
Croatia's Pressure Mounts
20:30 - Croatia vs. Romania
Croatia finds itself under pressure, needing to win all three matches in the second stage to secure a semi-final spot. Romania, while mathematically possible, faces a tall order to upset the Croats and the Greeks. The head-to-head record between these two teams is surprisingly even, with two wins and two losses. The Croats' debut as an independent country in 1993 was marred by an embarrassing loss, but Romania's victory in the group stage helped them finish fourth, their best-ever result. The Romanians also played a role in Croatia's worst-ever finish, beating them in a shootout after a close match. The most recent encounter was at the Paris Olympics, where Croatia emerged victorious by a narrow margin of 11-8.
Classification Matches: Slovenia vs. Israel and Slovakia vs. Malta
10:15 - Slovenia vs. Israel
Slovenia's victory over Slovakia on Friday was a significant achievement, but they aim to build on that momentum against Israel, who are yet to secure any points in four straight defeats. Israel currently holds the distinction of being the only team with zero points from four matches.
12:45 - Slovakia vs. Malta
Slovakia's tie against Slovenia on Friday was a morale-boosting result, but they are yet to win a game in Belgrade. They now face Malta, who caused an upset by defeating Israel in the first round. Slovakia has a strong record against Malta, having won all three previous encounters in the European Championships playoffs for 13-16th places.
Don't miss out on the thrilling action! Watch all the matches live on Eurovision Sport (https://eurovisionsport.com/). For the latest schedule, results, and tables, visit (https://europeanaquatics.org/ewpc-2026/belgrade/schedule-and-results/#/schedule-bydate/ASM). Secure your tickets for the men's European Water Polo Championships in Belgrade here (https://tickets.rs/tour/europeanaquaticswaterpolochampionshipmenbelgrade20262321). Stay updated on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Euro.Waterpolo) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/euro.waterpolo/) for more news and live updates from the European Aquatics Water Polo team.
