Croatian national water polo team turns its focus to the World Water Polo Championships

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.

The Croatian national water polo team held a press conference today after winning the silver medal at the European Championships in Tuesday final. Coach Ivica Tucak and team captain Marko Bijač agreed that losing the final at home was difficult, but that they now have to turn their focus to the World Championships in Doha, which is less than three weeks away.

Bijač, who was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper, said the loss was devastating, but that time will show that this was ultimately a good showing by the national team: "It certainly isn't easy, but I believe that as time goes by, we will become aware that we achieved a good result. That we won another big medal for Croatian water polo."

For coach Tucak, it was a visit from Croatian national football team coach Zlatko Dalić that helped ease the pain, although he remains bitterly disappointed that his team did not qualify directly for the Paris Olympics: "After the game last night, Zlatko Dalić joined us for dinner, and he said that the morning after a loss is what makes him hate being a coach. What can you do, we're not going to cry about it, because in three weeks we face an even more difficult task. Many say this silver has a golden shine, but we didn't secure a visa for the Paris Olympics, and that's what I regret the most."

Croatia goes into Doha with seven medals, having won the gold medal in 2007 and 2017, the silver medal in 2015, and four bronze medals in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2019. This is quite a tally to go along with its six European Championships medals, having won two gold medals in 2010 and 2022. Croatia also has three Olympic medals, including the gold from 2012.

Source: HRT