Croatia takes the silver medal at the European Water Polo Championships

Croatia was a last minute decision to host the 2024 Men’s European Water Polo Championships, after the sport’s European governing body, LEN, announced that original host Israel would not be hosting the tournament over security concerns.

Croatia took the silver medal at the 2024 Men’s European Water Polo Championships after losing to Spain 11:10 in the final in Zagreb on Tuesday night. In a hard fought game, Croatia led throughout most of the match, and even enjoyed a three goal lead in the first half. However, two late goals from Spain turned the tide in their favour.

Leading Croatia was goalkeeper and team captain Marko Bijač, who registered 14 saves. He was also named the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Leading coach Ivica Tucak’s team in scoring was Luka Bukić with four goals. The top scorer for Spain were Granados and Sanahuja with three goals each.

Croatia entered the tournament as the defending champions, having won the goal in 2022, when it also hosted the tournament in Split. This is Croatia’s sixth medal at the European Championships, having previously won two gold medals, in the afore mentioned 2022 and twelve years earlier in 2010, once again as the host nation, in the capital Zagreb. Croatia also has two silver medals from 1999 and 2003, and a bronze medal in 2018.

Source: HRT