Belgrade 2026: Day 1 Match Previews
Men's European Water Polo Championships, Belgrade 2026
Match Previews, Day 1 - Saturday 10 January (local times shown)
Group A
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- Hungary, the all-time medal leader with 13 titles and 26 medals, is celebrating its 100th anniversary of winning the first European title in 1926. Since 1993, they've only missed the semis once and have claimed 13 medals.
- France, who won silver in 1927, has been improving, finishing in the top 8 until 1958 and 6th in Split in 2022. However, they dropped to 9th place two years ago.
- The teams met twice in the recent prep season, with Hungary winning both games.
- Their last match at the Europeans was in 2014, with Hungary winning 12-7.
- Recent clashes at major tournaments have seen Hungary win in the Paris Olympics and World Cup Division I, but France caused an upset at the World Championships in Doha 2024.
- Fun fact: The head coaches, Zsolt Varga and Vjekoslav Kobescak, played together in Mladost Zagreb in the late 1990s and shared hotel rooms on trips.
Group A
18.00 Malta v Montenegro
- Malta, making its sixth appearance, usually finishes in 15th or 16th place, with a best finish of 14th in 2022.
- Montenegro, who debuted in 2008, won the European title in Malaga. They've reached the semis four times and won silver in 2012 and 2016.
- The teams met in 2018, with Montenegro winning 17-5.
- Fun fact: Montenegro's head coach, Dejan Savic, led Serbia to European triumph in 2016 in Belgrade, defeating Montenegro in the final.
Group C
12.45 Israel v Spain
- Israel, making its fourth appearance, finished 12th in Split and 16th in Zagreb/Dubrovnik two years ago.
- Spain, who won the European Championship in 2024, had three silver and four bronze medals before that. They've made the podium in 11 major events since 2018.
- Spain is the European title-holder, reigning world champion, and World Cup winner.
- This is the first match between the two teams.
- Fun fact: Spain has only one regular-time loss in the last four European Championships, to Hungary in the semi-finals in Split 2022.
Group C
20.30 Netherlands v Serbia
- The Netherlands, who won bronze in 1938, barely missed the top 8 until 1993. They've had a 9th place finish in 1997 as their best effort in the last 12 appearances.
- Serbia, the host nation, has five titles since gaining independence and eight European golds since 2001. They had an outstanding run with nine consecutive podium finishes from 2001 to 2018.
- However, Serbia has failed to make the semis in the last three editions and has no medals from the last five World Champs and two World Cups.
- The teams have met in the last three Europeans, with Serbia winning each time.
- Fun fact: When Serbia won gold in 2006 in Belgrade, it triggered a massive run by host nations in the following championships.
Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Euro.Waterpolo) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/euro.waterpolo/).
