- by croatiaweek
- January 17, 2026
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(Photo: HVS)
Croatia’s men’s national water polo team have made an emphatic start to the main round of the 2026 Men’s European Water Polo Championship, recording a dominant victory over Romania in Belgrade.
Head coach Ivica Tucak’s side controlled the match from the opening sprint, securing a comprehensive 17–9 win and underlining their intent as the competition enters its decisive phase.
Croatia set the tone early, racing to a 5–1 lead after the first quarter before extending their advantage to 11–6 by half-time.
The pressure continued in the third period, where the Barakude tightened their defence and increased the gap to 11–6. A strong final quarter ensured the result was never in doubt, with Croatia closing out the match confidently.
(Photo: HVS)
Konstantin Kharkov led Croatia’s scoring with five goals, while Marko Žuvela added four. Zvonimir Butić also made a key contribution, finding the net three times as Croatia spread their scoring effectively across the team.
With this win, Croatia have taken an important step towards their objective of reaching the semi-finals and remaining in contention for the medals. However, the task ahead remains demanding.
(Photo: HVS)
Croatia will next face Turkey on 19 January, with the match scheduled to begin at 20:30, before concluding the main round against Italy. Victories in both remaining fixtures will be required to secure a place in the semi-finals.
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