European Water Polo Championships in Eindhoven. Eindhoven (pps) An almost full house at Pieter van den Hoogenband Swim Stadium: 2,200 Dutch fans saw a gala performance for women’s water polo although 2008 Olympic champion Netherlands lost to title holder Russia on the first women’s day at the 2012 European Water Polo Championships in Eindhoven. The European hosts lost 11-10 to a much regenerated Russian team in a top level match, which could well have been an anticipated final.
The Italian head coach of the Netherlands, Mauro Maugeri, said after the match: “A draw would have been more just today. But if our team continues to play with this spirit, I’m looking forward to the upcoming matches with confidence.“ And the happy Russian head coach Alexander Kabanov simply said: “We’ll take it step by step.”
Reigning World champion Greece narrowly beat record-winning European champion Italy 10-9 in the second top match of the day. In the last period the Italians came back from being four goals down to lose by just one goal.
Former World champion Hungary had no problems to defeat Olympic hosts Great Britain 19-9, and neither had Spain at their 22-12 win over Germany.
The Britons who are making great efforts with regard to their Olympic home matches in London in the summer, are competing in their first European Championship for fifteen years since finishing tenth in Seville in 1997.
Thursday is a “men’s day” again at Eindhoven. The sporting highlight on the third day of the preliminary round should be the encounter between title defender Croatia and 2011 World silver medallist Serbia (17:30hrs) – possibly a preliminary decision in Group B.
Photo (match RUS-NED) _ Copyright DEEPBLUEMEDIA.EU/G.SCALA.
LEN Media Team