The Croatia water polo team opened their performance at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Hungary tonight against Greece. Croatia kicked off the competition with seven new names on the team.
The 2022 World Championship is Croatia’s 13th appearance since Croatian independence. Croatia has won 7 medals from the last 12 World Championships, sharing second place with Italy and Spain, which are significantly older countries. Hungary is the best with 11 medals won.
Ivica Tucaks’ team first faced the current Olympic silver medalist, Greece. Croatia also plays against Germany and Japan in Debrecen.
The winner of each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the second and third-placed national teams play the round of 16.
Match Report
Croatia won the sprint but was unsuccessful in its first attack to get a goal. Greece went up 1:0 with 6:39 on the clock.
Croatia’s shot was blocked in the next attack and Zuvela shot over the post to keep Greece ahead.
Russian-born Kharkov equalized for Croatia at 1:1 with 5:05 to go in the first quarter. Greece went ahead 2:1 in the next attack. Vukicevic missed in Croatia’s next attack.
Greece went up to 3:1 with 3:11 to go in the first quarter. Both of Croatia’s shots were blocked in the next play.
Greece made it 4:1 with 15 seconds to go, which is how the first quarter ended.
Greece hit the post to open the second quarter which was lucky for Croatia, but Greece’s defense was not kind to Croatia’s next attack.
Zuvela finally scored for 4:2 with 4:48 to go in the second quarter and Buric made it 4:3 with 4:02 to go!
Kharkov made it 5:5 for Croatia with 1:47 to go, which is how the match went into halftime.
Croatia was unable to score in their first attack of the third quarter, and Greece retook the lead at 6:5 with 5:59 to go.
Kragic scored brilliantly for 6:6 with 3:45 on the clock and goalkeeper Bijac stopped Greece’s next attack.
Greece retook the lead at 7:6 with 1:43 left and Croatia was unable to score in the following attack, ending the third quarter 7:6 for Greece.
Four minutes into the final quarter and neither team had scored. Zuvela finally equalized for 7:7 with 3:48 left in the match.
Greece scored for 8:7 with 3:08 to go but Basic scored for 8:8 with 1:55 on the clock!
Greece hit the post and Croatia missed the goal with less than a minute left. Greece missed with 0:26 left, giving Croatia the attack and chance to win, but was unable to score. The match ended 8:8.
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