Eindhoven (pps) Italy versus Greece – that’s the final in the women’s event at the European Water Polo Championships in Eindhoven on Saturday.
The Italians upset title defender Russia 13-12 in the semi-finals, while reigning World champion Greece kept a clean sheet on its way into the final by defeating Hungary 14-12.
After three successive European titles, Italy stopped Russia from becoming the third record-winning European champion besides the Netherlands and Italy (four titles each), and took revenge for last year’s 8-7 loss to the Russians in the bronze medal match at the World Championships in Shanghai.
“We are not afraid of the Greeks”, Italian head coach Fabio Conti disclosed.
The Spanish women thwarted host Netherlands’ hopes winning the match for fifth place 11-10, thus also snatching up the last ticket to the Olympic qualifying tournament in Trieste in April. Spanish head coach Miguel Oca: “To finish the tournament with a victory is very rewarding. In the third quarter we were 9-5 down, but then our team spirit set in and let us recover.” Dutch captain Yasemin Smit expressed the deep despair of the 2008 Olympic champion team: “It is simply frustrating. We lead by four goals and lose the match! I have to digest that first.”
Five men’s matches have been scheduled for Friday, starting at 12:00 hrs with the match for 11th place between FYR of Macedonia and Turkey. Both teams already met in Group A, when the Macedonians won 16-4. Romania and 2010 European champion Croatia then play each other in the round for 7th to 10th place (14:00hrs), as do Spain and host Netherlands (16:00 hrs). Reigning World champion Italy will meet Serbia in a repeat of the 2011 World Championship final (18:00) for a place in the 2012 European final, while 2008 European champion Montenegro and 2008 Olympic champion Hungary will determine the second finalist in the last match (20:00hrs).
The organisers increased the total capacity by 650 to 3,150 seats by erecting another temporary stand for the last three competition days at Pieter van den Hoogenband Swim Stadium.
Photo (ITA-11-COTTI Aleksandra _ RUS-2-FEDOTOVA Nadezhda)_Copyright DEEPBLUEMEDIA.EU/G.SCALA.
LEN Media Team