1. Montenegro
2. Georgia
3. Germany
4. France
5. Australia
6. Romania
7. Neutral Athletes B
8. Ukraine
9. Canada
10. Malta
11. Brazil
12. Slovakia
13. Argentina
14. Turkiye
15. China
16. Portugal
17. Slovenia
18. Poland
19. Kazakhstan
20. Singapore
21. Great Britain
22. South Africa
23. Hong Kong
Awards
Image Source: Two Awards — Best Player and Highest Goal-Scorer Thomas Vernoux (FRA)/Francesco Gauci/World Aquatics
Best Player
Thomas Vernoux (FRA)
Image Source: Best Goalkeeper Marius-Florin Tic (ROU)/Francesco Gauci/World Aquatics
Best Goalkeeper
Marius-Florin Tic (ROU)
Image Source: Best Young Player Strahinja Gojkovic (MNE)/Francesco Gauci/World Aquatics
Best Young Player
Strahinja Gojkovic (MNE)
Image Source: Top goal-scorers Carlos Camnasio (ARG) and Thomas Vernoux (FRA)/Francesco Gauci/World Aquatics
Top scorers
Thomas Vernoux (FRA) and Carlos Camnasio (ARG) — 36 goals
Match Reports
Match 80. 1st-2nd final.
MONTENEGRO 19 GEORGIA 17 (6-4, 2-6, 4-3, 7-4)
Image Source: Saba Tkeshelashvili (GEO) v Georgia/Francesco Gauci/World Aquatics
Montenegro was guilty of some wayward shooting in the first quarter, but still established a 6-4 advantage, as Georgia’s defence failed to close down its rival on several occasions. After the opening break, the Georgians came out firing, hitting three in a row, with Stefan Pjesivac’s fierce backhander nudging his side ahead (7-6), and prompting Dejan Savic immediately to call a timeout. Aljosa Macic briefly stemmed the tide, equalising from a man-up, but three goals from Saba Tkeshelashvili, Nika Shushiashvili and Besarion Akhvlediani saw Georgia move two clear by the turnaround (10-8). Montenegro cut the gap by one in the third, and really started to roll in the fourth, with a 3-0 opening burst swinging the game in its favour. Georgia desperately searched for a way back, but fell short, as the outcome many predicted came to fruition. Dusan Matkovic inflicted most of the damage, top scoring with six goals, while Georgia showed it’s ready to mix it with the big boys in Sydney.
Match 79. 3rd-4th final.
FRANCE 6 GERMANY 8 (2-2, 1-0, 1-3, 2-3)
Image Source: Thomas Vernoux (FRA) v Germany/Francesco Gauci/World Aquatics
Germany produced a defensive masterclass against France, keeping its sharpshooters quiet, to secure third place. Just five goals were scored in an extremely tight first half, which the French edged 3-2, and while Germany’s wall stood firm after the long break, France’s started to wobble. Strikes from Mark Gansen and Lennox Metten put the Germans 4-3 up and they were never behind again. Both goalkeepers also excelled, with Hugo Fontani recording stats of 13/21 (61.9%), which proved better than Felix Benke’s 9/15 (60.0%), but still wasn’t enough to end up on the winning side.
Match 78. 5th-6th final.
ROMANIA 14 AUSTRALIA 16 in penalty shootout. FT: 11-11. Pens 3-5 (3-3, 5-2, 1-2, 2-4)
Image Source: Andrei Neamtu (ROU) shoots a penalty against Nic Porter (AUS)/Francesco Gauci/World Aquatics
Australia finished its warm-up for the Sydney finals with a hard-fought victory, needing penalties to get past a determined Romania. After trailing by three at halftime (8-5), Australia slowly clawed its way back, as Jacob Mercep fired in his third of the match with 2:38 remaining to level things up. The shootout success may have wrapped up fifth place, but the Aussie Sharks will know improved performances are needed if it’s to make an impression when the main event starts on home soil in July.
Match 77. 7th-8th final.
NEUTRAL ATHLETES B 5 UKRAINE 0
Ukraine voluntarily chose not to start the scheduled 7th/8th place classification match against the Neutral Athletes B.
Match 76. 9th-10th final.
MALTA 12 CANADA 14 (1-5, 1-4, 3-2, 7-3)
Image Source: Malta v Canada/Chareace Camilleri/World Aquatics
Canada dominated the opening exchanges against Malta and took an unassailable 9-2 lead by halftime. With a healthy advantage, the Canadians could afford to ease up in the third, and despite losing the final quarter by four goals, it only allowed the host to get within two in the dying minutes. Jason O’Donnell’s match-high four goals, and two each from Nikos Gerakoudis, Bor Tanasijevic and Reuel D’Souza, helped ensure Canada ended its campaign on a high.
Match 75. 11th-12th final.
BRAZIL 13 SLOVAKIA 12 (2-2, 3-4, 3-4, 5-2)
Image Source: Maros Tkac (SVK against Brazil/Chareace Camilleri/World Aquatics
Brazil went the distance against Slovakia, fighting back from 12-9 down early in the fourth to claim 11th place. It was a stunning finish from the Brazilians, with goals from Lucas Andrade, Pedro Vergara, Gustavo Guimaraes and Gustavo Coutinho completing a dramatic late turnaround. For Slovakia, it was sheer agony, as it could only watch its lead blown away in the last five-and-a-half minutes.
Match 74. 13th-14th final.
ARGENTINA 13 TURKIYE 11 (4-3, 5-3, 3-1, 1-4)
Image Source: Nahuel Leona (ARG) v Turkiye/Chareace Camilleri/World Aquatics
Argentina controlled its final with Turkiye by winning the first three quarters and taking a 12-7 lead. With the result decided, the Turks’ late surge was a mere consolation, as the Argentines were never in trouble and ahead from the second minute. Carlos Camnasio impressed once again, flashing in six more goals to make him the joint-top scorer with 36 in Malta, alongside France’s Thomas Vernoux.
Match 73. 15th-16th final.
PORTUGAL 13 CHINA 15 (3-6, 5-2, 4-4, 1-3)
Image Source: Zhongxian Chen (CHN) v Portugal/Chareace Camilleri/World Aquatics
Portugal put up plenty of resistance against China, but couldn’t keep up at the end. After falling 6-3 behind in the opening quarter, the Portuguese rallied to level at 8-8 by halftime and even led four times in the third (9-8, 10-9, 11-10 and 12-11), only to be pegged back on each occasion. A Yuhao Cai penalty early in the fourth restored China’s lead, and two more goals from captain Zhongxian Chen – his sixth and seventh of the game – finally put Portugal to the sword.
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