The first derby at the 34th European Championships in Budapest – the encounter between Spain and Italy- was the highlight of Day 2 of the female tournament.

But the big match of the day didn’t see a big battle. Spain, the runner-up at the 2019 World Championships, posted a convincing 16:10 win. The Italian Federation announced that some of the players had had health problems before the match.

Day 2 results (evening session)
Group A: Hungary – Slovakia 2:20.
Group B: Israel – France 6:10, Italy – Spain 10:16

34th European Championships, women, Day 2

Group A

Slovakia – Hungary 2:20 (1:5, 0:5, 1:4, 0:6)

Slovakia :Stankovianska 1, Katlovska 1.
Hungary: Keszthelyi-Nagy 6, Rybanska 3, Leimeter 3, Szilagyi 2, Gurisatti 1, Valvyi 1, Parkes 1, Illes 1, Gyonyossy 1, Garda 1.

Extra player shot: Slovakia 0/3, Hungary 8/15. Penalty shots: Hungary 1/1

Host Hungary found it easy to beat Slovakia in the last match of today’s schedule.

Rita Keszthelyi , the best scorer of the 2019 World Championships, found the net six times, and was the best scorer of the match, just like in yesterday’s win over Hungary.

Morning/afternoon session:

Russia – Serbia 27:2 (6:2, 8:0, 8:0, 5:0)

Croatia – Greece 3:18 (0:6, 2:4, 0:5, 1:3)

1 Russia 2 – 6
2 Hungary 2 – 6
3 Greece 2 – 6
4 Croatia 2 – 0
5 Serbia 2 – 0
6 Slovakia 2 – 0

Day 3 (January 15th): Greece – Slovakia, Serbia – Croatia, Hungary -Russia.

Group B

Italy – Spain 10:16 (2:5, 2:4, 3:3, 3:4)

Italy:Garibotti 3, Bianconi 3, Marletta 2, Avegno 1,Emmolo 1.
Spain: Tarrago 7, Garcia 3, Espar 2, Gonzalez 1, Forca 1, Crespi 1, Leiton 1

Extra player shot: Italy 5/13, Spain 7/10. Penalty shots: Italy 1/1.

Spain Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo

According to the information from the Italian squad, some of the Italian players didn’t feel well last night (six players were affected by food poisoning, nobody said who were the players that had problems).

However, the Italians said that they didn’t try to find an alibi in health problems. Spain, led by Roser Tarrago, was better today

-This was a special day, but what happened makes us grow, we must understand that we must be ready in times of difficulty. The team is there, it is out of the question. Before the game, everyone wanted to play despite the difficulties, I wanted to give all the girls a few minutes just because they all wanted to demonstrate their devotion to the team – Italy’s head coach Paolo Zizza said for the Italian national television RAI.

The organizers must investigate this accident. Besides the Italian female team, both teams of Russa, male teams of Slovakia, Romania, and Georgia are in the same hotel.

Spain opened the match with a 3:1 lead (Roser Tarrago scored all three first goals for her team) after five minutes of play. The Italians cut the deficit (2:3), but the silver medalists from the World Championships, responded with a 5:1 series and went 8:3 up in the middle of the second quarter. Rosser Tarrago netted her 7th goal this evening for 10:4 early in the third and there was no way back for Italy. In the remaining time, Spain maintained a big 6-goal difference.

Italy – Spain Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo

Israel – France 6:10 (2:3, 0:4, 1:1, 3:2)
Israel: Bogachenko 3, Hochberg 2, Futorian 1.
France: Millot 4, Bachelier 2, Gulliet 1, Mahieu 1, Deschampt 1, Daule 1.
Extra player shot: Israel 1/4, France 0/2. Penalty shots: Israel 1/1, France 1/2

France collected its first points by defeating Israel. This was an even contest until 2:2. Then, the French produced a 5:0 run to earn a safe 7:2 lead before the middle break. After that, their win wasn’t in danger.

Israel – France Photo:lalex k./Total Waterpolo

Morning session

Germany – Netherlands 3:23 (1:6, 0:5, 0:5, 2:7)

1 Netherlands 2 – 6
2 Spain 2 – 6
3 Italy 2 – 3
4 France 2 -3
5 Israel 2 – 0
6 Germany 2 – 0

Day 3 (January 15th): France – Germany, Spain – Israel, Netherlands – Italy.