Croatia are world water polo champions

The Croatian water polo team has won the gold medal at the World Championship after beat‐ ing Italy in the final on Saturday after penalties.

Today was Croatia’s fourth ap‐ pearance in a World Champi‐ onship final.

Back in 2007 Croatia won gold in Melbourne by beating Hungary in the final. Their second gold came in Budapest in 2017.

In 2015 they won silver in Kazan.

Croatia went out to an early lead but back to back goals from Italy saw them edge ahead 3‐2 after the first quarter.

The second quarter was a tight affair, with Croatia coming back to edge in front 5‐4 before the Italians would equalise a the end to make it 5‐5 at halftime.

The third quarter was another tight one but the Croatians, thanks to a last second save from Marko Bijač, would lead going into the last 8‐7.

Both teams traded goals in a tight final quarter but it was the

Italians who edged in front at the death 11‐10, but with five sec‐ onds remaining, Rina Burić would equaliser to send the final into penalties. Italy would miss two penalties to give Croatia a memorable win 15‐13.

Konstantin Harkov (4) and

Jerko Marinić‐Kragić (3) were top goal scorers for Croatia on the night.

Playing in the final of both the

Euros and the World Champi‐ onship in just a month was an im‐ pressive feat for Ivica Tucak’s side. Last month Croatia lost to Spain in the Euros final to claim silver.

Spain scored a flawless 3‐0 final quarter to sneak past reigning champion Croatia 11‐10 in a riv‐ eting gold‐medal final of the Eu‐ ropean men’s water polo championships, and in doing so, stole a first crown in its fourth final.

Croatia was stunningly denied its third title in front of an ador‐ ing home crowd in Zagreb. Italy defeated outgoing world cham‐ pion Hungary 12‐7 for the bronze medal.

The championships were deliv‐ ered to Croatia by default after Is‐ rael had to withdraw because of the international crisis in that country.

It was decided to play the top two divisions in Zagreb and the lesser two groups in Dubrovnik across 13 days. This proved pop‐ ular with the crowds.