Belgrade 2026: European Water Polo Championships Day 8 Match Previews
The men's European Water Polo Championships are underway in Belgrade, and the action continues on Day 8 with some intriguing matches in Group F of the Group Stage II.
15:30 Georgia vs Italy
Georgia and Italy have a history of facing off against each other, with Italy maintaining an unblemished record against their opponents. Since Georgia's debut in the European Championships in 2014, they have consistently fallen short against Italy, with a combined record of 9-0. The closest match was a World League qualifier in 2017, which Italy won 13-12. Italy's offensive prowess is evident, as they topped the group stage in goals scored (56) and shots taken (117), despite having the fifth-highest shooting percentage at 47.9%.
18:00 Greece vs Türkiye
Greece, fresh off their dramatic win against Croatia, faces a seemingly easier opponent in Türkiye. However, Türkiye's advancement to this stage is a testament to their resilience, as they have typically played in classification matches for lower ranks. The Greek-Turkish rivalry is a fascinating one, with the two coaches, Theodoros Vlachos and Konstantinos Loudis, sharing a unique bond. Both are fellow Greeks and were born in the same year (1969). Their playing careers began together at the European Championships in Bonn 1989, and while Vlachos only played in one major tournament for the national team, Loudis became a key figure, playing until 2003. As coaches, their paths diverged, with Vlachos leading Greece for 14 seasons, and Loudis recently taking on the Turkish team.
20:30 Croatia vs Romania
Croatia is under pressure to win all three matches in the second stage to secure a semi-final spot. Romania, while mathematically possible, would need to pull off upsets against both Croatia and Greece, which is highly unlikely. The Croatians have a strong record at the Europeans, but their head-to-head with Romania is surprisingly even, with two wins and two losses. The first encounter was a humbling loss for Croatia upon their debut as an independent country in 1993, but Romania's victory helped them achieve their best-ever finish at 4th place. Romania also played a role in Croatia's worst-ever finish at the Europeans, beating them in a shootout after a close match.
10:15 Slovenia vs Israel
Slovenia's victory over Slovakia on Friday was a significant achievement, and they now face Israel, who are yet to earn any points after four straight defeats. Israel is the only team in the tournament with zero points from four matches. The two teams met four years ago, with Israel winning 9-5 in the group stage to advance to the top 12.
12:45 Slovakia vs Malta
Slovakia's tie against Slovenia on Friday was a morale-boosting result, but they are yet to win a game in Belgrade. They now face Malta, who defeated Israel in the first round. Slovakia has a strong record against Malta, having won all three matches at the Europeans, with the most recent clash being a close affair at the World Cup Division II in 2024, where Malta emerged victorious.
Stay tuned for live coverage of all the action from Belgrade on Eurovision Sport, and for the full schedule, results, and tables, visit the official website. Tickets for the men's European Water Polo Championships are available now.
