Belgrade 2026: European Water Polo Championships Day 9 Match Previews
The Men's European Water Polo Championships are underway in Belgrade, with the ninth day of action bringing a packed schedule of matches. Here's a breakdown of the key clashes on Sunday, January 18th, local time.
Group Stage II, Group E:
15:30 - France vs Spain
- Spain's recent form is impressive, with back-to-back victories over the Netherlands (14-7) and Montenegro (14-6) showcasing their strength. In contrast, France struggled against Serbia, and their chances of a win against Spain seem slim.
- Spain has dominated this fixture, winning 13 out of 16 matches since the 2014 Europeans. France has only two wins, including a notable 9-6 victory in the 2018 Europa Cup and a 14-11 win in the 2022 World League. However, Spain's recent success on the big stage, like their 10-8 win at the Paris Olympics, highlights their dominance.
- At the Europeans, Spain's winning streak continues with victories in the last three encounters: 13-5 in 2014, 7-4 in 2018, and 9-6 in 2024.
- Spain's top scorers, Alberto Munarriz, Unai Biel, and Alvaro Granados, are already in double digits, but Bernat Sanahuja's poor shooting percentage (11.1%) is a notable contrast.
18:00 - Montenegro vs Netherlands
- Both teams have already missed their chances of reaching the semis, but the game carries significance for the 2027 World Championships. The higher a team finishes, the better their chances of qualifying for the World Cup in Budapest.
- Montenegro holds a strong record against the Netherlands, with a 4-0 lead in head-to-head matches. Their last encounter in Belgrade ended in a 13-6 win for Montenegro in the Europeans.
- Branko Mitrovic, a Montenegrin coach, led the Dutch U18 team to the semis at the 2022 Europeans, adding a layer of local flavor to the match.
20:30 - Hungary vs Serbia
- This highly anticipated match features two water polo powerhouses. A regular-time win for Hungary would secure their spot in the semis, while any other outcome will leave the final decision for the last round on Tuesday.
- Hungary's dominance in the Europeans is unparalleled, but they face a unique challenge: beating Serbia in Belgrade at a European Championships. Serbia has won all 18 matches played so far in the 2006, 2016, and 2026 editions.
- The head-to-head record between these two nations is closely fought, with Hungary leading 13-9, including two draws. The Serbs have dominated in the new millennium, but Hungary has the last two matches in 2022 and 2024.
- The teams didn't meet in 2016 but contested the 2006 final, with Serbia emerging victorious 8-7.
- Hungary's recent wins include a 17-13 group stage victory at the Olympics, a 13-12 prep match in Budapest, and a thrilling 19-18 win over Serbia in the 2025 World Championships semi-final.
- Fun fact: Eight Serbian players are currently playing or have played in Hungary, including key members like Dusan Mandic and Nikola Jaksic.
13th-16th Classification:
10:15 - Malta vs Slovenia
- Malta needs one point to secure 13th place, with a three-point lead over Slovenia. A regular-time win for Slovenia will take them to 13th place due to the equal points rule.
- Malta has won both its matches in this classification tournament, while Slovenia has drawn both and won a shootout. They met in the same phase in the last two editions in Croatia, with Malta winning 13-9 in 2022 and Slovenia taking revenge with a 10-8 win two years ago.
12:45 - Slovakia vs Israel
- A win for Malta in the earlier game would benefit the winner of this match, who could secure 14th place.
- Slovakia has earned a single point from a shootout loss to Slovenia, while Israel, after four straight defeats, defeated the Slovenians in a shootout, earning their first points and leaving Slovakia as the only team without a win.
- These teams met in the same stage two years ago in Dubrovnik, with Slovakia winning 15-9.
Don't miss out on the action! Follow the tournament live on Eurovision Sport (https://eurovisionsport.com/) and stay updated with the full schedule, results, and tables on the European Aquatics website (https://europeanaquatics.org/ewpc-2026/belgrade/schedule-and-results/#/schedule-bydate/ASM). For tickets, visit (https://tickets.rs/tour/europeanaquaticswaterpolochampionshipmenbelgrade20262321).
Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media for more news and live updates on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Euro.Waterpolo) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/euro.waterpolo/).
Gergely Csurka, European Aquatics
