Funchal 2026: European Water Polo Championships Day 8 match previews

Match previews, Day 8 – Monday 2 February
(Local times shown)

Classification finals

15th/16th Place

13:00 Slovakia v Romania

• Both sides are looking for their first win in Funchal.

• With the exception of 2020, when Slovakia made the top eight, in their three other appearances at a European Championships they have had to fight to avoid finishing bottom – they won their last match in 2024 (where the placed 15th), but not in 2022 (12th, after losing to Romania in the 11th/12th final) or 1993 (12th).

• The Romanians were 11th in 2022 (in a field of 12, after beating Slovakia) and came 14th two years ago in Eindhoven.

• The Slovaks haven’t forced a balanced encounter in Funchal so far, with their closest loss being a four-goal defeat to Türkiye, while the Romanians were edged out by Türkiye 12-14.

• At European Championships, they have met once, in Split, where Romania won 9-5 in another battle for the last place (11th/12th final). Previously, they have clashed in the qualifications, with the Slovaks winning the first two, 13-4 in 2017 and 16-9 in 2019, then Romania prevailed 9-8 in 2022 (before the championship).

Classification finals

13th/14th Place

15:00 Türkiye v Switzerland

• The Turks are ready to tie their best ever result, achieved two years ago when they came 13th. (Previously, they had two 12th ranks, but in 2016 and 2018 it meant they finished last).

• The Swiss, back in action after 1995, can also achieve something they could not, to win their last match. Back in 1995 they finished last (12th) after drawing one game and losing all of their others, and two years earlier they were 10th, ahead of two more teams, that time winning once.

• This is going to be their first-ever clash on the big stage. They met three times in the qualifications, Türkiye lead 2-1 – 2015: 24-5, 2022: 5-8, 2023: 10-8.

Classification finals

11th/12th Place

17:15 Germany v Portugal

• Dropping three points in two matches ending in shootouts in the second stage, left the Germans to play for the 11th place once more after 2020 and 2024, they claimed those classification matches both times.

• Playing for the 11th place is still a feat for Portugal as they will better at least four if not five teams here, while 10 years ago only two sides finished behind them when they came 10th upon their last appearance.

• Germany and Portugal have met only once before, in the qualifications in 2023, with Germany winning 12-10.

Classification finals

9th/10th Place

19:15 Serbia v Great Britain

• Under special circumstances, rather a lucky outcome in the World Cup in the summer (or in case of withdrawals from other continents), the winner of this match may even hope to get a berth for the 2027 World Championships.

• Great Britain passed the second stage test with flying colours, three big wins put them on top of their group.

• Serbia came on the hard road, edging out Türkiye and losing to the Germans in a shootout, but they still made this match, which offers them a chance to achieve their best result in a 16-team field – they were 10th two years ago.

• This will be the two sides’ first-ever match.

For the full schedule, results and tables from the women’s European Water Polo Championships in Funchal, click here

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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