2022 World Water Polo Championships: Croatia beats Japan to reach last 16

(Photo: HVS)

Croatia has beaten Japan in the final game of Group B at the 2022 World Water Polo Championships in Hungary on Saturday. 

Croatia turned around a 9-7 deficit after the first half to come back and win 13:21 (3:4, 6:3, 2:7, 2:7) to reach the second round of the tournament. 

Captain Ivan Krapić was named the player of the match. He and Kharkov scored five goals each, whilst Fatović and Vukičević scored three goals each. Burić scored two goals and Žuvela, Bukić and Vrlić scored one goal a piece.

“Playing against Japan in such circumstances is really difficult, when you earn a disqualification after each contact. But this is an atypical match, this really has nothing to do with normal matches. So I’m glad the guys successfully came out of it after all. Now we have a harder path ahead of us, as second in the group, one more game awaits us, that is, playing the round of 16. In the round of 16 we meet Georgia, which is anything but an inexperienced team. They have a few very good individuals in their lineup, we need to prepare well. But I believe we are of better quality,” said Croatia coach Ivica Tucak.

Croatia meets Georgia on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals.