Netherlands needed a penalty shootout to defeat Hungary 15-13 after the gold-medal final was tied at 10-10 when Hungarian Panna Tiba equalised 1:26 from time. In the bronze-medal encounter, World and World Cup champion Greece downed Italy 15-8 after a 10-4 opening half.
Final Classifications
- Netherlands
2. Hungary
3. Greece
4. Italy
5. Spain
6. Croatia
7. Israel
8. France
9. Great Britain
10. Serbia
11. Germany
12. Portugal
13. Turkey
14. Switzerland
15. Slovakia
16. Romania
Awards
MVP Gold-Medal Match
Simone van de Kraats (NED)
MVP Tournament Team
Goalkeeper
Laura Aarts (NED)
Field Players
Krisztina Garda (HUN)
Kitty Joustra (NED)
Rita Keszthelyi (HUN)
Maria Myriokefalitaki (GRE)
Simone van de Kraats (NED)
Elena Xenaki (GRE)
Top Goal-Scorer
Bea Ortiz (ESP)— 25 Goals
Overview
The look on the Dutch women’s faces when they sang their national anthem on the gold-medal dais said it all. Back to back crowns.
Hungary pushed the Dutch to a 5-4 decision in favour of the champion on day six and they faced each other again today, this time going to a penalty shootout. Netherlands lost a shootout to Spain on day seven after that hard clash with Hungary. Today, the Dutch triumphed with a clean shooting sheet and reignited their dominance of European women’s water polo since those four titles in 1985-93. For the Hungarians it was a 12th visit to the final with just the three victories of 1991, 2001 and 2016.
Greece claimed bronze to go with the World Cup and World titles of 2025 while Italy will have to wait another two years to make the dais.
The quality of the matches during the two-week extravaganza was immense and all credit to every team for putting on a show at every outing.
Medal Finals
Netherlands held strong and repulsed Hungary in a penalty shootout to claim back-to-back crowns and a seventh title. Hungary started strongly at 3-1 with the Dutch overcoming the deficit to lead 5-4 at halftime and 7-6 at the final break. Netherlands went ahead four times only for Hungary to level, the last coming from Panna Tiba with less than 90 seconds remaining.
In the shootout, there was so much action with multiple goalkeeper changes, with Netherlands’ 12-11 change earning a save on Rita Keszthelyi’s attempt. It was the only miss and the Dutch scored all five shots for the victory.
Simone van de Kraats topped the scoring with three goals for the Dutch.
In the battle for bronze, five-time champion Italy was on the back foot early with Greece racing to a 5-1 advantage by 1:35 in the opening quarter. It became 6-1 and 8-2 before turning at 10-4. Greece closed the third period 15-6 up and cruised home 15-8. Foteini Tricha and Vasiliki Plevritou scored three apiece while Dafne Bettini scored the last two Italian goals in her four-goal haul.
Greece was third last time and the silver medallist in 2022 and now has six medals — four silver and two bronze.
Medal Semifinals
Netherlands moved one step closer to its retention of the crown, dismissing Italy 8-4 after leading 5-2 at halftime.
Greece stumbled to Hungary in a penalty shootout after never having the better of the Magyars. Greece levelled three times in the second half with captain Eleftheria Plevritou making it 8-8 at 0:39. Greece had its last two shots saved by Szonja Golopencza.
Classification 5-8
In the day-nine semifinals, Croatia outplayed Israel 16-11 and Spain rattled France 15-4. Neli Jankovic and Iva Rozic scored four each for Croatia as did Bea Ortiz for Spain.
In the play-off for fifth on day 10, Spain spanked Croatia 23-9 with Ortiz lifting herself to top of the scoring ladder with five goals for 25 in total. Rozic netted three for Croatia and finished second on 24.
Israel was impressive against France in the seventh-eighth decider, winning 20-12 with Maria Bogachenko netting seven and Alma Yaacobi four to finish with 20 goals apiece. French star Ema Vernoux claimed six goals to place third on the ladder with 22 goals.
Group Stage 1
Group A:
The next closest match was France’s 13-11 defeat of Germany with Olympian Vernoux netting five goals for the French.
On day two, Greece put the sword into France 23-5 with sisters Eleftheria Plevritou and Vasiliki Plevritou scoring four apiece.
On day four, after the rest day, Greece wrapped up the group with a massive 24-7 win over third-ranked Germany with Maria Myriokefalitaki screaming home seven goals. France took out second place, downing fourth-ranked Slovakia 21-14 with Vernoux scoring seven goals.
Group B:
On day one, Hungary defeated Spain 9-7 with a withering 4-0 final quarter after Spain was three ahead in the second quarter. Host Portugal opened its account with a 12-7 rout of Romania.
On day two, Spain rebounded against Portugal 22-7 with Queralt Anton (ESP) firing in five goals.
On day four, Hungary claimed the group with an adventurous 28-4 margin over third-placed Portugal. Spain finished second with a 22-4 win over bottom-ranked Romania.
Group C:
Italy started strongly against Croatia 24-12 on day one thanks to five goals from Agnese Cocchiere. Serbia nudged out Turkiye 9-8 with Jovana Radonjic grabbing six goals.
On day two, Italy bounced Serbia 17-6.
On day four, Italy outplayed fourth-ranked Turkiye 25-11 for top spot with Chiara Ranalli hitting home six goals. Croatia secured second place thanks to a 10-8 victory over neighbour Serbia.
Group D:
On day one, Netherlands began its defence with a 14-4 margin over Great Britain.
Day two gave Netherlands a 28-2 steamrollering of Switzerland with Kitty Joustra slamming in nine goals and Simone van de Kraats seven. Israel picked a second victory, downing Great Britain 11-6.
On day four, Netherlands kept a perfect record, defeating second-placed Israel 23-6. Great Britain took out third place with an 18-6 margin over Switzerland. Lucy Blenkinship rifled in six goals for the Brits.
Group Stage 2 — Top 8
This was where the top eight teams tackled the medal stage.
Group E
On day six, Greece had the better of Italy 15-10, built on a 6-1 opening quarter. Croatia downed France 15-9 with a 5-2 final-quarter flourish.
On day seven, Greece thundered past Croatia 23-6 with Vasiliki Plevritou netting six Greek goals. With the carry-over points, Greece won the group unblemished with nine points. Italy rumbled France 24-5 and closed with second spot, leaving Croatia in third and France in fourth position.
Group F
On day six, Netherlands had the biggest shake to its crown when repulsing Hungary 5-4 after leading 4-2 at halftime. Hungary levelled at 4:29 in the fourth on counter-attack extra. It was not until 1:37 that Lola Moolhuijzen rocketed in a bounce shot from top right for the 5-4 decider.
Spain ripped apart Israel 23-7 with four big quarters.
On day seven, Netherlands lost in a shootout to Spain 16-13 (13-13 at full time) but the one point secured for a shootout loss was enough to top the group with seven points, one clear of Hungary who smashed Israel 22-6. Luckless Spain was in third with five points and Israel last with none. Spanish captain Bea Ortiz claimed the equaliser — and her seventh — against the Dutch to force the shootout a little over a minute from time.
Group Stage 2 — 9-16
Day 5 — Group G
Turkiye needed a penalty shootout to defeat Germany 15-14 after the match was locked at 12-12. Yelizavita Ivanova scored five goals for the victor.
Serbia downed Slovakia 12-4.
Day 5 — Group H
Portugal had the better of Switzerland 17-10 and Great Britain rumbled Romania 20-2 with Harriet Dickens netting five goals.
Day 7 — Group G
Serbia lost to Germany 13-12 in a penalty shootout after being locked at 9-9 but Serbia had the last laugh, winning the group with seven points, one clear of Germany who was one ahead of Turkiye. Slovakia was point-less.
Day 7 — Group H
Great Britain won the group with a 15-8 distance over second-ranked Portugal and Switzerland claimed its first victory, downing Romania 14-12.
Minor Classifications
Great Britain made sure of ninth classification after being in the top eight last time, defeating Serbia 10-9 with Katy Cutler earning the winner 23 seconds from time on extra. Serbia’s only lead was 1-0.
Germany clinched 11th position with a 2-1 final minute that repelled a defiant Portugal 13-12. Germany led 8-5 at halftime but was one down at the final break, only regaining the lead at 1:02. Maria Machado scored five goals for Portugal.
Turkiye consolidated 13th classification with a whopping 19-8 margin over Switzerland.
In the settling of accounts for 15th place in Europe, Slovakia downed Romania 16-12.