Spain triumphed at the Men’s Water Polo World Cup Division One, clinching first place after a commanding 15-9 victory over Hungary in the final match. With no medals on offer and all teams having already secured qualification earlier in the tournament, the final day was all about rankings and pride.
In other key matchups, Greece outclassed Montenegro to secure third place, Croatia thrashed Japan 20-8 for fifth, Georgia defeated the USA 17-12 for seventh, and Romania edged France 15-14 in a dramatic encounter to close the classification series. Serbia had already claimed ninth place a day earlier.
Final Classifications (Top Six Qualify for Finals)
- Spain
- Hungary
- Greece
- Montenegro
- Croatia
- Japan
- Georgia
- United States of America
- Serbia
- Romania
- France
Spain vs. Hungary: Granados Dominates
Match 34: Hungary 9, Spain 15
Spain avenged their opening-day loss to Hungary (12-11) with a decisive victory led by Alvaro Granados’ spectacular eight-goal performance. The Spaniards dominated early, establishing an 8-2 halftime lead, and maintained their momentum to finish the match with a six-goal margin.
Granados, the Player of the Match, was unstoppable, launching powerful shots from outside and converting critical extra-man opportunities. Supported by a stellar defensive display from goalkeeper Unai Aguirre, who recorded 14 saves, Spain demonstrated why they are European champions.
Key Stats:
- Extra-man goals: Spain 7/8, Hungary 3/9
- Steals: Spain 10, Hungary 4
- Saves: Unai Aguirre (ESP) – 14
What They Said:
- David Martin (ESP), Head Coach: “Our defence was amazing today. We kept Hungary’s talented shooters to just four goals in three quarters and capitalised on our extra-man opportunities.”
- Alvaro Granados (ESP), Player of the Match: “This win means everything. After a tough summer, this tournament has reignited my passion and energy to represent Spain.”
Greece Claims Third Place
Match 33: Greece 17, Montenegro 10
Greece rebounded from a disappointing previous match with a convincing victory over Montenegro. A seven-goal streak between the first and second quarters sealed the win, with Stylianos Argyropoulos and Efstathios Kalogeropoulos each netting four goals.
Greece’s clinical execution on extra-man plays (9/12) and their relentless defence showcased their strength as one of the top teams in the world.
Croatia Thrashes Japan for Fifth
Match 32: Croatia 20, Japan 8
World champion Croatia dismantled Japan in a match defined by a red card for violence against Japan’s Kiyomu Date. Croatia capitalised on the exclusion, scoring six unanswered goals to secure the win.
Konstantin Kharkov and Jerko Marinic Kragic led Croatia with four goals each, while goalkeeper Toni Popadic made 14 saves to keep Japan at bay.
Georgia Stuns USA for Seventh
Match 31: Georgia 17, USA 12
Georgia’s balanced attack and efficient extra-man play (7/11) overwhelmed the United States, earning them a well-deserved seventh-place finish. Despite strong efforts from Ryan Ohl (4 goals) and captain Max Irving, the USA struggled to find consistency against Georgia’s aggressive defence.
Romania Edges France in Thriller
Match 29: Romania 15, France 14
Romania secured their first win of the tournament in a nail-biting clash against France. The match saw multiple VAR interventions and a red card for French star Romain Marion Vernoux, which ultimately tilted the game in Romania’s favour.
Goalkeeper Matei-Stefan Marchitan was the hero, with a tournament-high 20 saves, while Francesco Iudean scored five goals to lead Romania to victory.
What’s Next?
The top six teams, including Spain, Hungary, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, and Japan, will advance to the Super Finals in April. With valuable lessons learned and strategies refined, the teams will look to compete for medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this July.