Croatian women beat Serbia to reach quarterfinals of European Water Polo Championship

In Eindhoven, the Croatian women’s national team achieved a remarkable comeback in the round of sixteen of the European Championship, defeating Serbia 11-8.

This victory came after Croatia trailed 7-4 at halftime. With this win, the Croatian water polo team has secured a spot in the quarterfinals, scheduled for tomorrow at 4:00 PM against the European champions, Spain.

Serbia took an early lead, leading 3-1 in the first quarter, 5-3 and 6-4 in the second. There was a sense of slight tension among the Croatian players, given the previous three days and three convincing defeats, although against much stronger opponents. Meanwhile, Serbia entered confidently with three victories.

At the beginning of the third quarter, Serbia, led by Miličević, extended their lead to 7-4. At that moment, there were concerns about the outcome. However, if there was fear among the spectators, it was absent in the Croatian ranks. A small Croatian storm ensued – Brnetić and Magdalena Butić narrowed the gap to one goal (7:6) by the end of the third quarter.

At the start of the second, the turnaround happened. Jelena Butić equalized (7:7), followed by Iva Rožić scoring on the counterattack (8:7). This marked our first lead with precisely 5.59 minutes left in the game. Serbia leveled the score (8:8), but with three consecutive goals in the final two minutes (J. Butić 2 and Rožić), Croatia secured a significant victory.

Kiara Brnetić:

We hoped to separate ourselves much faster, and the start of the game was challenging for us. However, we agreed clearly – the game lasts 32 minutes, and there’s no giving up at any moment. That resulted in victory. We are familiar with the Serbian players as we often face each other; the rivalry is intense, making these matches the toughest. It’s because we know each other too well, making it challenging to surprise.

Bruno Sabioni, Croatian Coach:

It wasn’t easy for us coming in with three losses against their three wins. We felt that tension, but we have a wonderful chemistry in the team. Even when we were behind, we didn’t let our heads drop, maintaining confidence. This game showcased that. At 7:4 for Serbia, their players were already smiling, and that’s when we felt we had them. I am so happy for these girls, and I only hope this motivates them further.