In the second game of Group B of the FINA World Championships, the Croatia water polo team topped the United States 17:7 (4:1, 5:3, 4:2, 4:1), thus securing first place in the group and direct placement in the quarter-final, reports HRT on July 17, 2019.

This is the second win at the World Championships for Ivica Tucak’s squad after defeating the Australia national team in the first round (14:4). After overcoming the US early this morning, Croatia has thus secured a spot among the top eight national teams before the last match of the group stage, which will be played on Friday, July 19 at 1:30 pm Central European Time, which can also be watched on HRT 2 in Croatia. 

Croatia is looking to defend their World Championship title in South Korea this summer after winning the tournament two years ago in Budapest. Croatia is also fighting to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

The most effective for Croatia was Maro Joković, Josip Vrlić and Ante Vukičević, who each scored three goals, while Andro Bušlje, Luka Lončar, and Hrvoje Benić scored two. Croatia’s goalkeepers were brilliant - Marko Bijač collected 11 saves and Ivan Marcelić five.

In the first game of Group B, Australia overcame Kazakhstan 17:8. Thus,  the match between Australia and the US on Friday will decide who wins second place in Group B.

The first team in each of the four groups will directly place in the quarter-final, and the second and third teams from each group will play for a spot among the top eight.

The crossover matches are scheduled on July 21 and the quarter-final games on July 23. Only the two teams that play in the final will secure the Olympic Games next year, and if one of them is Serbia, who already qualified for the Olympics by winning the World League, then the third-placed team from World Championships will travel to Tokyo.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

July 15, 2019 - The Croatia water polo team kicked off their World Championship campaign in Gwangju,  South Korea against Australia in Group B. 

After a month of preparations and tournaments, from Zagreb to Belgrade, Šibenik to Split, and Seoul to Gwangju, Croatia water polo finally began their World Championships on Monday at 12:30 pm Gwangju time (5:30 am in Croatia).

The 18th FINA World Championships are also of particular importance to Croatia - not only are they on a mission to secure a spot at the Tokyo Olympics next summer, but they’re determined to defend the title from Budapest in 2017, and, at the very least, win a medal (which would be their seventh consecutive at the World Champs). 

Thus, on Monday morning, Croatia met Australia, the strongest rival in Group B, and considered one of the toughest non-European teams who have a chance at winning a medal this tournament. Recall, just last month, Australia finished third in the World League finals in Belgrade, just after Croatia in second. They are coached by Croatian Elvis Fatović, after all. 

However, Croatia didn’t have much difficulty getting the result they wanted today. 

The first quarter ended 4:1 for Croatia, while the second finished 2:1 for a 6:2 Croatia lead at the half. Croatia’s dominance and superb defense showed especially in the third quarter, where they managed four goals and allowed Australia none. The fourth quarter ended 4:2 for Croatia, for a final score of 14:4. We must tip our hats to Croatia’s 28-year-old goalkeeper Marko Bijač, who was brilliant for the entirety of the match. 

Apart from Australia, Croatia plays in Group B against the United States and Kazakhstan. The United States and Kazakhstan met in the game before Croatia and Australia where the US won 16:7. 

The Croatia water polo team will play the US next in two days on July 17th at 9:50 am Gwangju time (2:50 am Croatia time). Croatia's final group game is against Kazakhstan on Friday, July 19th, at 8:30 pm Gwangju time (1:30 Croatia time). 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Croatia water polo coach Ivica Tucak announced a list of 13 players who will represent Croatia at the FINA World Championships from July 14 to 27 in Gwangju, South Korea. Croatia will try to defend the World Championship title, which they won in 2017, and secure their spot at the Tokyo Olympics next summer, reports Gol.hr on July 3, 2019. 

Tucak stressed that it was challenging to pick just 13 players out of the 20 who participated in the preparations in Šibenik, though he decided on goalkeepers Marko Bijač and Ivan Marcelić, defenders Andro Bušlje, Hrvoje Benić and Marko Macan, centers Luka Lončar and Josip Vrlić, and drivers Loren Fatović, Maro Joković, Javier Garcia, Ante Vukičević, Lovro Miloš and Anđelo Šetka.

"We have another dilemma, that is, a little problem with defender Marko Macan who broke his hand a few weeks ago and will be initially among the 13 players, but we have the right to make a change before the start, depending on the medical prognosis. The 14th player is Ivan Buljubašić. I want to thank this wonderful guy and top professional who has marked the last ten years of Croatian water polo, and it was not easy for him to travel and wait to see what the situation would be. This is proof of the cohesion in the team because it is not easy to accept such a decision,” Tucak said, pointing out that the ambitions of the World Championships are great because not only do they want to defend the title but it is crucial to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. 

HVS Vice-President and Executive Director Perica Bukić pointed out that going to the World Championships is the crown of the season, where Croatia has won six won medals, of which two are gold. 

"No other team in history has been able to achieve this. A medal in South Korea would be the seventh consecutive medal at the World Championships. The first goal, of course, is to defend the gold, and we will do everything to get to the final,” said Bukić.

"There are two spots for Tokyo at the World Championships, so the priority is to enter the final. I'm sure that we can and we also have quality, and the atmosphere in the team is superb. I hope we will come back with good results,” said captain Bušlje.

The World Championships is scheduled for July 14 to July 27. Croatia opens the tournament on July 15 against Australia. In the second round, on July 17, Croatia plays against the USA, and in the final duel of the group stage, on July 19, Croatia plays Kazakhstan. 

The first team in each of the four groups will go directly to the quarter-finals, and the second and third place teams will play for the remaining top 8 positions. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

June 29, 2019 - After losing the FINA World League title to Serbia in a dramatic final in Belgrade last week, the Croatia water polo team continued their preparations in Šibenik for their next challenge - the World Championships in South Korea. 

When Croatia lost the FINA World League final to Serbia in Belgrade last Sunday, not only did they lose the title, but they missed out on a chance to secure the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo next summer. Recall, winning the World League automatically granted you a ticket to Japan. 

Fortunately, after a thrilling final in Belgrade, the Croatia water polo team has no reason to be ashamed, and they have yet another chance at securing the next summer Olympics - the FINA World Championships in South Korea in July, where Croatia will play in Group B against the USA,  Kazakhstan, and Australia. 

Thus, the team gathered in Šibenik on Thursday to continue preparing for Gwangju. Coach Ivica Tucak counted most of his squad, except for four older players - Andro Bušlje, Maro Joković, Xavi Garcia and Anđelo Šetka - who received 24 hours of rest after the Belgrade tournament and were not required in Šibenik until Friday.

In addition to the players who competed in Belgrade, Tucak called up goalkeeper Toni Popadić (Jug Co), center Luka Lozina (Jug Co) and two wingers Luka Bukić (Mladost) and Ante Visković (Jadran).

Specifically, this means that 20 players will take part in the Šibenik preparations, including goalkeepers Bijač, Marcelić and Popadić; centers: Lončar, Vrlić, Krapić and Lozina; defenders: Bušlje, Buljubašić, Benic, Macan; and wingers Joković, Garcia, Miloš, Bašić, Šetka, Vukičević, Fatovic, Bukić and Visković.

The team will stay in Šibenik until July 4, with the exception that on Monday, July 1, they will meet the national team of Germany at the Zvončac pool in Split from 9 pm as their final test before they travel to South Korea. And if you can’t make the game in Split, you can catch it on HTV 2. 

Following the friendly on Monday, the Zvonač pool will also host a round robin tournament including the national teams of Germany, Australia, and Kazakhstan. The three water polo nations will meet on Tuesday with the final at 8:30 pm on Wednesday. 

Croatia’s first game at World Championships is on Monday, July 15 against Australia. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Croatia has become the world champion in water polo after defeating Hungary 8:6

The Croatian men's water polo team has won the title of world champion at the FINA World Championships in Budapest after defeating Hungary 8:6!

Croatia’s Ivica Tucak approaches Serbia’s Dejan Savić, hugs him, and congratulates him on winning the Gold medal. That was the image left in the minds of many after the Olympic finals in Rio de Janeiro last year when Croatia was defeated by Serbia. Last night in Budapest after the FINA World Championship semi-finals, Serbia’s coach returned the favor.

The Croatian water polo team has advanced to the finals of the FINA World Championships after celebrating a win against Serbia!

Croatia will face Serbia in the FINA World Championship semi-finals! 

Croatian Water Polo coach Ivica Tucak thinks that Croatia is more quality than Italy ahead of the FINA World Championship quarter-finals tonight in Budapest.