Belgrade 2026: Day 2 match previews

Men’s European Water Polo Championships, Belgrade 2026

Match previews, Day 2 – Sunday 11 January (local times shown)

Group B

18.00 Slovenia v Croatia

• The Slovenians have had three appearances between 1999 and 2006 when they usually finished either last or one better, then they returned to the big stage in 2022. That time they ended up in 16th place, the last time they climbed higher to finish 14th.

• Croatia are on another level, as since 1993, they have made the semis 11 times in 16 editions and have won six medals so far. Playing at home, they always reached the final and won twice (2010, 2022), then lost two years ago in Zagreb. Across the last four championships, they have always reached the semis and played back-to-back finals at the last two editions.

• They have met three times at the Europeans so far, with the Croats winning all of their clashes with ease – after defeating their rivals 9-4 both in 1999 and 2003, they met here in 2006 for the last time and Croatia won 19-8.

• Their overall head-to-head stands at 10-0.

• Fun fact: Well, less fun for the Croats, who have miserable memories from Belgrade as they finished 7th at each of the previous two championships held here, in 2006 and 2016.

Group B

20.30 Greece v Georgia

• Even though Greece have had some tremendous success in the new millennium, as they reached finals at the Olympics (2021) and at the Worlds (2023) and delivered medals from the top events (three times at the last four Worlds), they have yet to climb the podium at the European Championships.

• They have taken part in 20 editions so far (debuted in 1970) but have only made the semi-finals twice, in 1999 and 2016, but they lost their last two matches both times. After Belgrade 2016, they went on to lose the quarterfinals in the following four championships, then finished 5th three times, including the last two editions in 2022 and 2024.

• Georgia made the cut for the first time in 2014 and ever since became a constant feature at the Europeans. Their best result came in 2022 when they managed to advance to the quarters and finished 8th, in that year, they also competed at the World Championships. They dropped back to the 10th place two years ago.

• At the Europeans, the Greeks downed Georgia upon their 2014 debut with a 15-6 blast and their following two encounters ended in similar routs. Greece won 17-10 in 2020 and 18-9 two years ago. Altogether, Greece leads 10-0 in head-to head, all matches were lopsided, with an 8-12 goals difference, only their 2020 Olympic qualifier offered unexpected excitement when a single goal in the fourth period won the match for the Greeks with 11-10.

• Fun fact: This is going to be a clash of two Greek coaches. Theodoros Vlachos has been in charge of the Greeks since 2014, while Athanasios Kechagias is now the boss of the Georgians.

Group D

12.45 Türkiye v Italy

• Türkiye ruined the Germans’ historical run of taking part in all but one edition of the Europeans since the very beginning in 1926. They ousted them in the qualifications to return to the big stage after six years. This is going to be their 7th appearance since they first entered in 1966 – so far, they managed to win 4 matches out of 46 they played.

• Italy have a strong bond with the Europeans – after missing two early editions (1926, 1931), they took part in each championship. Their best spell was between 1987 and 2001 when they clinched six medals at eight tournaments, including back-to-back golds in 1993 and 1995. However, that was also their last triumph to date and they could add three medals on their last 11 tries. Though it looks better if we consider the Italians’ semi-final appearances as they managed to reach the top four six times in the last eight editions (since 2010) and after four medal-less events, they finally landed the bronze two years ago in Zagreb.

• Italy have never had any problems downing the Türks in their most recent clashes. At the Europeans, they met here in the Belgrade Arena for the last time in 2016, when Italy blew them away with a 16-2 rout. Their previous three matches weren’t any different either (1991: 22-4, 2010: 9-4, 2012: 14-6). The other clashes ended similarly when they met at the World League with the closest contest seeing a 10 goal difference in 2015 (14-4). Over the last 10 years, Italy are 6-0 up in the head-to-heads.

• Fun fact: Among the top contenders, Italy are the only team arriving in Belgrade with a perfect record during the prep weeks since December. They played five matches and won them all – they edged out the Hungarians in Budapest (15-14) then beat the Montenegrins 15-12 in Napoli. Then in Trebinje in January, they pulled off a shootout win against Spain (18-16), downed Serbia 13-11 (led 10-4 after three periods) and staged a magnificent 4-0 rally to come back from 6-9 down against Hungary and won that match with a buzzer-beater at the end.

Group D

15.15 Romania v Slovakia

• Romania debuted in 1954 and since 1962 they haven’t missed a single edition. In 1993, they achieved their best result, reaching the semis in Sheffield and finished fourth – and they repeated that in 2006 here in Belgrade. Ten years later they dropped to 10th place in this Arena and they finished outside the top eight at the following three editions as well. Two years ago, they returned to the top flight by ousting Georgia in the crossovers, which also opened the way for them to another Olympic appearance in Paris and a World Championship run in Singapore.

• Slovakia have had more moderate results. They could never make the top four, though they were close in 2001, 25 years ago, when they almost caught the Yugoslavs in the quarters. Another QF appearance in 2003 was their last laugh, when they produced their best-ever effort by finishing 7th. Since then, they have never returned to the top eight, even missing three straight editions (2010-14) before making the cut again. Still, they were either 13th (like two years ago) or 14th, or one worse, 15th in 2022.

• This is going to be a big clash as the three sides behind Italy will fight for the two qualifying spots – though Romania are definitely the favourites as their national team has been built around clubs playing in the Champions League (the Slovaks and the Türks don’t have any team in the top club competition).

• In their recent matches, Romania usually took the upper hand, they are 6-1 up in official competitions. They won their last two encounters, both at the Europeans – 8-7 in 2024 and 9-5 in 2018. Slovakia’s lonely win, a 6-5 nailbiter, came in a World League game in 2017.

• Fun fact: Romania’s Eduard-Mihai Dragusin is the oldest player in the entire field in Belgrade. The goalie celebrated his 42nd birthday a week ago on 5 January. Six of his team-mates were still attending kindergarten when he debuted in the national team in 2007.

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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