Continent’s top coaches discuss European Championships format and draw in new episode of Water Polo World
Speaking on the latest episode of European Aquatics’ Water Polo World, Croatia coach Ivica Tucak has praised the new two-group format for the 2026 European Championships, which will be held in Belgrade from 10-25th January.
‘First of all, I congratulate European Aquatics and the TWPC, and all the people that brought this change,’ said Tucak. ‘This format is I think more in the spirit of sport and more fair.
‘Yes, if you lose a game, it gets more complicated, but it is more fair than it was before. As someone with a lot of experience, this is my 14th year as a coach of a national team, I think I know what I am talking about.
‘When everything you work for falls in one day, it cannot be all the way fair, or in the spirit of sport.
‘You lose a game in the group, you have two or three games to get back, you win your games in the group, you have the right to have a bad day.
‘I salute this decision and think it is an improvement for water polo.’
Elsewhere in the special season-opening Water Polo World episode, two of Europe’s other leading coaches – Montenegro coach Dejan Savic and Spain’s David Martin, plus Norbert Madaras, President of the Hungarian Water Polo Federation – share their views on the 2026 tournament.
From tactical implications to the competitive balance of the tournament’s new structure, their reflections capture both the challenges and opportunities the updated format presents.
Viewers can also enjoy highlights from the recent men’s and women’s Super Cups, including the epic men’s showdown in Budapest between FTC and Pro Recco, and Sant Andreu’s triumph over ZV De Zaan in the women’s final – with both offering a tantalising glimpse of the exciting water polo fans can expect to see across the forthcoming season.
The Water Polo World show also recaps the spectacular opening round of clashes of the men’s Champions League and Euro Cup Group Stage.
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