Greek players celebrate the bronze medal. Credit: Hellenic Olympic Committee
Greece thrashed Italy with a clinical defensive performance, cruising to a 12-5 victory to claim the bronze medal at the water polo European Championship in Belgrade.
This marks the first time in history that Greece has reached the podium in this prestigious tournament.
A dream start for Greece
Determined to bounce back after their semifinal loss to Hungary, the Greek squad entered the water with relentless intensity. Behind goals from Gkiouvetsis, Argyropoulos, and Kakaris, Greece stormed to a 3-0 lead.
Italy looked suffocated by the pressure, and as Argyropoulos converted another power play, the lead swelled to 4-0. Italy finally broke its silence with a Ferrero penalty, ending the first quarter trailing 4-1.
The wall in front of the goal
The second period was a defensive masterclass. While Papanastasiou and Kalogeropoulos found the back of the net to extend the lead to 7-1, Manos Zerdevas was nearly unbeatable. Zerdevas delivered a career-best performance, recording 11 saves on 16 shots (a 68.8% save rate), rendering the Italian offense powerless.
Greece: a powerhouse of water polo
By the third quarter, it was a one-sided affair. Kostas Kakaris scored a signature goal from the center position, followed by a Gkiouvetsis lob that pushed the lead to 9-3.
With Italy mentally defeated and shooting a dismal 17.2% (5/29) for the game, Greece maintained total control. Stelios Argyropoulos added the final “icing on the cake” with 35 seconds remaining, sealing the historic 12-5 win.
Related: Greek Men’s Water Polo Team Secures Historic World Championship Bronze