Croatia men's national water polo team

Croatia
Nickname(s) Barakude (The Barracudas)
Association Croatian Water Polo Federation
Confederation LEN (Europe)
Head coach Ivica Tucak
Asst coach Pero Kuterovac
Mile Smodlaka
Captain Andro Bušlje
FINA code CRO
Olympic Games
Appearances 6 (first in 1996)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (2012)
World Championships
Appearances 11 (first in 1994)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (2007, 2017)
World League
Appearances 8 (first in 2002)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (2012)
World Cup
Appearances 6 (first in 1995)
Best result 2nd, silver medalist(s) (2010)
European Championship
Appearances 14 (first in 1993)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (2010)
Europa Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2018)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances 6 (first in 1993)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (2013)
Croatia men's national water polo team
Medal record
Olympic Games
2012 LondonTeam
1996 AtlantaTeam
2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam
World Championship
2007 MelbourneTeam
2017 BudapestTeam
2015 KazanTeam
2009 RomeTeam
2011 ShanghaiTeam
2013 BarcelonaTeam
World Cup
2010 Oradea
2014 Almaty
World League
2012 Almaty
2009 Podgorica
2015 Bergamo
2010 Niš
2011 Florence
2017 Ruza
European Championship
2010 Zagreb
1999 Florence
2003 Kranj
2018 Barcelona
Europa Cup
2018 Rijeka
Mediterranean Games
2013 Mersin
1993 Languedoc-Roussillon
1997 Bari

The Croatia men's national water polo team represents Croatia in international water polo competitions and friendly matches. It is governed by the Croatian Water Polo Federation.

First Croatian national team that won gold medal at Olympic or World Games, World and European Championships.

History

After the independence of Croatia the national water polo team competed at its first tournament and also its first finals at 1993 Mediterranean Games, followed by the 1993 European Championships where Croatia won 5th place.

Croatia has since became Olympic champion (2012), double World champion (2007, 2017) and European champion (2010). Croatia has also won eight other medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships and was fourth on six occasions. The team holds a record streak of winning 6 medals in a row at World Championships and has reached semifinals in over 60% of appearances at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships altogether since 2017. Since the formation of national team Croatia has qualified for every big tournament. It is the first Croatian national team in any Olympic team sport that has won gold medals at all three big competitions. Croatia has also won World League (2012) and Mediterranean Games (2013). The only competition Croatia has yet to win is World Cup where the national team won silver medal in 2010.

The team has been awarded with Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport in 1996. So far two International Swimming Hall of Fame inductees have been members of Croatia national team - Perica Bukić as a player and Ratko Rudić as a coach.

Results

Summer Olympics

World Championships

European Championships

World League

Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.
* marks instances of not qualifying for the super final due to "host rule".

Year Round Position Pld W D L
Greece 2002Did not qualify for the Super Final122010
United States 2003Did not compete
United States 2004
Serbia and Montenegro 2005Group Round4th14806
Greece 2006 *Did not qualify for the Super Final11704
Germany 20078305
Italy 2008 *6303
Montenegro 2009Final2nd, silver medalist(s)12903
Serbia 2010Semifinal3rd, bronze medalist(s)12804
Italy 2011Semifinal3rd, bronze medalist(s)111001
Kazakhstan 2012Final1st, gold medalist(s)101000
Russia 2013 *Did not qualify for the Super Final6402
United Arab Emirates 20144103
Italy 2015Final2nd, silver medalist(s)141202
China 2016Did not qualify for the Super Final6402
Russia 2017Semifinal3rd, bronze medalist(s)121002
Hungary 2018Quarterfinal5th10703
TotalParticipated: 15/17
Qualified for the Super Final: 8/15
14898050

World Cup

Mediterranean Games

Year Round Position Pld W D L
France 1993Final2nd, silver medalist(s)
Italy 1997Final2nd, silver medalist(s)
Tunisia 2001Preliminary Round5th
Spain 2005Semifinal4th5203
Italy 2009Semifinal4th5302
Turkey 2013Final1st, gold medalist(s)4400
Spain 2018Did not participate
TotalParticipated: 6/714905

Team

Current squad

Roster for the 2018 Men's European Water Polo Championship.[2]

Head coach: Ivica Tucak

No Name Date of birth Position L/R Height Weight Club
1Marko Bijač12 January 1991GoalkeeperR1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)88 kg (194 lb)Croatia VK Jug
2Marko Macan26 April 1993DefenderR1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)112 kg (247 lb)Croatia VK Jug
3Loren Fatović16 November 1996WingR1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)84 kg (185 lb)Croatia VK Jug
4Luka Lončar26 June 1987Centre backR1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)106 kg (234 lb)Croatia VK Jug
5Maro Joković10 January 1987WingR2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)97 kg (214 lb)Croatia VK Jug
6Ivan Buljubašić31 January 1987DefenderR1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)107 kg (236 lb)Romania CSA Steaua București
7Ante Vukičević24 February 1993WingR1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)95 kg (209 lb)France CN Marseille
8Andro Bušlje (C)4 January 1986DefenderR1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)115 kg (254 lb)Greece Olympiacos
9Lovre Miloš5 April 1994Field playerR1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)94 kg (207 lb)Croatia HAVK Mladost
10Josip Vrlić25 April 1986Centre forwardR1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)130 kg (290 lb)Spain CN Atlètic-Barceloneta
11Anđelo Šetka14 September 1985WingR1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)86 kg (190 lb)Croatia VK Jadran Split
12Xavier García5 January 1984Field playerR1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)92 kg (203 lb)Croatia VK Jug
13Ivan Marcelić18 February 1994GoalkeeperR1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)106 kg (234 lb)Croatia HAVK Mladost

Player statistics

Head coaches

Notable players

Naturalized players

Andrey Belofastov (Ukraine), Xavier García (Spain)[3] Faris Okanovic (Sweden)

Statistics

Record against other teams

As of 13 April 2018

Key
Positive total balance (more wins)
Neutral total balance (equal W/L ratio)
Negative total balance (more losses)

Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.

National team Total Olympic Games World Championship World Cup World League European Championship Mediterranean Games Qualifications Europa Cup
Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L
Australia Australia 151302 2200 6501 1100 6501 0000
Austria Austria 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000 0000
Belarus Belarus 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000
Brazil Brazil 8701 1100 4400 0000 3201 0000
Canada Canada 7700 0000 5500 0000 1100 1100
China China 6600 1100 2200 1100 2200 0000
Egypt Egypt 1100 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
France France 10901 1001 0000 0000 4400 3300 0000 1100 1100
Georgia (country) Georgia 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000
Germany Germany 241824 1100 1001 0000 121101 8422 2200 0000
United Kingdom Great Britain 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000
Greece Greece 342149 3201 3102 2110 14905 9630 2200 0000 1001
Hungary Hungary 348224 2101 7313 3003 10307 121110 0000 0000
Iran Iran 1100 0000 0000 1100 0000 0000
Italy Italy 4122217 6501 5212 2002 14806 10514 3102 1100 0000
Japan Japan 4400 0000 3300 0000 1100 0000
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 6600 2200 1100 1100 2200 0000 0000
Republic of Macedonia Macedonia 4400 0000 0000 0000 4400 0000 0000 0000 0000
Malta Malta 2200 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000 0000 1100
Moldova Moldova 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000
Montenegro Montenegro 231409 4301 3300 1100 9306 4202 0000 1100 1100
Netherlands Netherlands 131300 1100 2200 1100 4400 4400 0000 1100
New Zealand New Zealand 3300 0000 3300 0000 0000 0000
Poland Poland 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100
Romania Romania 161303 1100 3300 1100 4301 4202 3300 0000
Russia Russia 3523111 1100 7403 2101 181305 6411 1001 0000
Serbia Serbia * 3812323 5212 6213 6204 9207 8215 2002 0000 2200
Slovakia Slovakia 8701 0000 1100 0000 0000 6501 1100 0000
Slovenia Slovenia 6600 0000 0000 0000 0000 3300 1100 2200 0000
South Africa South Africa 4400 0000 2200 0000 2200 0000
Spain Spain 3315216 5104 2002 5014 9504 7511 4301 0000 1100
Turkey Turkey 9900 0000 0000 0000 6600 1100 2200 0000 0000
Switzerland Switzerland 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000
Ukraine Ukraine 4400 1100 0000 0000 0000 3300 0000 0000
United States United States 3020010 7304 7601 5302 11803 0000
Total (36) 42728016131

* includes games against  Serbia and Montenegro / FR Yugoslavia

Biggest Wins

double digit goal difference

Olympic Games World Championship World Cup World League European Championship Europa Cup Mediterranean Games Qualifications
  • +12 vs. China (16-4) 2008
  • +11 vs. Egypt (12-1) 2004
  • +34 vs. New Zealand (35-1) 1994
  • +19 vs. South Africa (19-0) 2013
  • +17 vs. New Zealand (21-4) 2013
  • +16 vs. New Zealand (19-3) 1998
  • +15 vs. Canada (19-4) 2005
  • +15 vs. Kazakhstan (19-4) 1998
  • +11 vs. Brasil (17-6) 1998
  • +11 vs. Japan (18-7) 2011
  • +10 vs. Canada (13-3) 2003
  • +10 vs. China (15-5) 2009
  • +10 vs. Japan (16-6) 2017
  • +10 vs. Russia (13-3) 2007
  • +21 vs. Iran (23-2) 2010
  • +10 vs. China (14-4) 2010
  • +21 vs. South Africa (22-1) 2010
  • +19 vs. Turkey (20-1) 2013
  • +17 vs. Brasil (20-3) 2012
  • +16 vs. Kazakhstan (19-3) 2017
  • +14 vs. Turkey (17-3) 2013
  • +13 vs. Spain (19-6) 2006
  • +13 vs. Turkey (19-6) 2016
  • +13 vs. Turkey (16-3) 2016
  • +11 vs. Netherlands (18-7) 2017
  • +10 vs. Brasil (17-7) 2005
  • +10 vs. China (15-5) 2011
  • +10 vs. China (14-4) 2015
  • +10 vs. France (16-6) 2017
  • +10 vs. Netherlands (17-7) 2017
  • +10 vs. Russia (14-4) 2018
  • +10 vs. Turkey (13-3) 2015
  • +24 vs. Austria (26-2) 1995
  • +20 vs. Malta (22-2) 2016
  • +15 vs. France (20-5) 2016
  • +13 vs. Turkey (16-3) 2010
  • +12 vs. Netherlands (16-4) 2012
  • +11 vs. Slovenia (19-8) 2006
  • +10 vs. Slovakia (15-5) 2008
  • +15 vs. France (20-5) 2018
  • +12 vs. Netherlands (16-4) 2018
  • +11 vs. Malta (16-5) 2018
  • +13 vs. Turkey (17-4) 2013
  • +11 vs. Greece (14-3) 2009
  • +20 vs. Georgia (23-3) 1999
  • +17 vs. Puerto Rico (18-1) 2004
  • +12 vs. Romania (12-0) 2004

Biggest Losses

Olympic Games World Championship World Cup World League European Championship Europa Cup Mediterranean Games
  • -4 vs. Italy (7-11) 2004
  • -7 vs. Serbia (4-11) 2015
  • -6 vs. Hungary (4-10) 2005
  • -5 vs. Spain (6-11) 1994
  • -6 vs. Serbia (7-13) 2010
  • -5 vs. Hungary (6-11) 1997
  • -5 vs. Russia (5-10) 1997
  • -5 vs. Spain (2-7) 1995
  • -9 vs. Hungary (6-15) 2007
  • -8 vs. Greece (5-13) 2008
  • -7 vs. Brasil (10-17) 2015
  • -7 vs. Serbia (6-13) 2016
  • -6 vs. Hungary (5-11) 1995
  • -5 vs. Hungary (11-16) 2006
  • -9 vs. Italy (5-14) 2005
  • -6 vs. Serbia (8-14) 2009

Non-senior competitions

See also

Notes

  1. FINA waterpolo player of the year in 1982., 1984. and 1985. Scored 28 goals in one game which is a world record for waterpolo game (final score: Yugoslavia 62–0 Guatemala). First waterpolo player in history to sign a 6 digit contract.

References

  1. Qualification for the tournament was determined by placing in the 1992 Olympics tournament. Since the Croatian team couldn't had participated in the 1992 Olympic water polo tournament due to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, it couldn't qualify for the 1993 World Cup.
  2. "Team Roster" (PDF). wp2018bcn.microplustiming.com. 16 July 2018.
  3. http://hrsport.net/vijesti/496096/vodeni-sportovi-reprezentacija/stigla-potvrda-iz-moo-a-javier-garcia-s-hrvatskom-na-olimpijskim-igrama-u-riju/

Sources

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