2018 European Water Polo Championship: Croatia Advance to Quarterfinals

Croatia advance at the European Champs (Photo: HVS)

Big win for Croatia on Friday night.  

Croatia has beaten Greece on tonight to advance through to the quarterfinals at the 2018 Men’s European Water Polo Championship which is being held in Barcelona, Spain.

Croatia, who are the current world champions, turned on an impressive performance tonight against a strong Greece team in the top of the table clash to run away with the victory 11-7 (2:0, 5:4, 3:1, 1:2). The win has secured Ivica Tucak’s team a direct spot in the quarterfinals.

(Photo: HVS)

Croatia claimed the top spot in Group C after earlier beating Netherlands in their opening match 18-8 and then trounced Turkey 23-2 to set up a showdown with Greece who is one of the favourites for a medal, tonight for the top spot and a direct quarterfinal.

For Croatia tonight Javier Garcia scored four goals, Ante Vukičević got three and there was a goal apiece to Luka Lončar, Marko Macan, Maro Joković and Anđelo Šetka.

(Photo: HVS)

Croatia now has three days rest before the quarterfinal on Tuesday. They will play the winner of the Romania v loser of Spain v Montenegro match.

“We were powerful. We were very concentrated in defence, had good flow with the ball, great at passing into the centre, everything which we had agreed on we did in the pool. This is what we wanted and we prepared for it. There is no euphoria, no for us it all starts. This win means we avoided a knockout match against Germany and created two extra free days. We continue on our way, it is a clear path and if its Montenegro or Spain in the quarters it is not important as we know our path,” Tucak said after the match.