Croatia water polo start Olympic qualifying tournament with big win

by croatiaweek
February 14, 2021
in Sport

Croatia water polo record victory against Romania

Team Croatia during the Olympic Waterpolo Qualification Tournament 2021 match between Croatia and Romania at Zwemcentrum Rotterdam on February 14, 2021 in Rotterdam, Netherlands (Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)

ROTTERDAM, 14 February 2021 – The Croatian water polo team opened its performance at the Olympic Qualifying tournament in Rotterdam on Sunday with a big victory against Romania 16: 6 (5: 1, 3: 1, 4: 2, 4: 2).

Rino Burić was the top scorer with three goals, while five other Croatian players scored two goals each – Macan, Fatović, Lončar, Joković and Miloš. Garcia and Bukić also contributed with one goal each.

(Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)

Among the Romanians, Georgescu and Fulea stood out with two goals each.

(Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)

Croatia will meet the Netherlands next up on Monday.

“I think we started the game well and controlled the result from start to finish. We took the Romanians as seriously as possible and happily ended the first game of the tournament. We immediately turn to the Dutch, who, by defeating the Germans today, showed that they are a quality team. A serious match awaits us tomorrow. Yet we are on the right track to achieving what we all want,” said Marko Bijač, the goalkeeper of the Croatian national team.

(Photo by Marcel ter Bals/Orange Pictures)

“I think they entered the game well and opened the tournament very well. We kept the game under control. The game against the Netherlands is next, we are preparing for each separately and we hope to continue to play as we played today in order to qualify for the Olympic Games,” concluded Croatia player Luka Bukić.