Four-time champion Hungary will be out to extend its medal run in this event — first contested in 1979 in Yugoslavia — by adding to its four golds, four silvers and two bronzes and prove that seventh at last year’s World Aquatics Championships was an aberration. This was especially so since it bounced back to finish runner-up to Croatia at the European Championships a month later under new coach Zsolt Varga.

For Hungary, the World Cup has been a happy hunting ground, snaring the 1979, 1995, 1999 and 2018 crowns while its 10-medal haul easily surpasses the six-medal effort by the old Yugoslavia.

This year’s results have seen some major upheavals and to qualify that, Croatia — fourth in Budapest last year — failed to make the Los Angeles finals. In fact, Montenegro was another not to make the finals, despite finishing equal on points with Greece and Serbia and even defeating Greece 8-7 on the final day.

Croatia lost its final qualifying match with Hungary 13-10 that allowed Hungary to slip through, although also equal on points with the European champion.

Romania and Germany were worthy winners in Berlin, Romania taking out China 18-9 and Germany trouncing Kazakhstan 12-1 to cement their berths from Division II.

Looking back at 2018, silver medallist Australia failed to win a qualifying match in Podgorica, Montenegro; fourth-placed Croatia was on the outer in Zagreb, Croatia; seventh-placed Japan gained just the one win in Zagreb — over France — and eighth-ranked South Africa was seventh in Berlin.

Day-One Match-Ups

Germany and Spain face off in the opening match, However, for Germany, playing the world champion will be no easy task as Spain was a swim-away winner of the Podgorica series. Germany was 13th in Budapest last year, but much more revitalised this year. Expect veteran and big-match star Felipe Perrone to lead the charge for Spain alongside Alberto Munarriz. Germany’s Zoran Bozic can be a handful.

Hungary and Greece front in the second encounter. Both teams finished on equal points in their respective series with Greece second in Podgorica and Hungary third in Zagreb. Hungary is bringing two of its recently crowned world champion juniors — Erik Molnar and Vince Vigvari, brother of team-mate Vendel Vigvari. Greece has the irrepressible Ioannis Fountoulis at the helm and Stylianos Argyropoulos ready to plunder goals.

Italy and Romania go head to head in the third battle with Romania out to prove it deserves to be on the big stage. With the World League champion and World Championship runner-up Italians the form team of 2022, having also claimed fourth place in Europe in a long and tiring campaign, it has the credentials to go all the way. Italy’s Lorenzo Bruni and Eduardo Di Somma were on fire in Zagreb while Romania has Andrei Neamtu and Levente Vancsik in its arsenal.

The fourth quarterfinal pits Serbia against United States of America and, as with the other three clashes, these teams did not meet in the qualifying rounds. USA’s biggest credential was downing Hungary 15-9 in Zagreb while Serbia is probably still smarting from the 23-22 sudden-death, penalty-shootout loss to Georgia in Podgorica. USA’s Alex Bowen and Max Irving are form players while Serbians Nemanja Stanojevic and Dusan Mandic will be worth watching.

Friday Schedule

Match 1, 13:00, Germany v Spain
Match 2, 15:00, Hungary v Greece
Match 3, 17:00, Italy v Romania
Match 4, 19:00, Serbia v United States of America

Saturday Schedule

Match 5, 13:00, Loser 1 v Loser 4
Match 6, 15:00, Loser 2 v Loser 3
Match 7, 17:00, Winner 1 v Winner 4
Match 8, 19:00, Winner 2 v Winner 3

Sunday Schedule

Match 9, 13:00, Loser 5 v Loser 6
Match 10, 15:00, Winner 5 v Winner 6
Match 11, 17:00, Loser 7 v Loser 8
Match 12, 19:00, Winner 7 v Winner 8