Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-52×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48
  • News
  • SUKNO U15 CAMP – MALTA 2023
  • SHOP NOW
  • LIVESCORE
    • 2023 FINA Men’s Water Polo World Cup
    • LEN Champions League 2022/23
    • Budva Masters 2023
    • Sunčana Kapica
    • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus
    • Alpe Waterpolo League
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic league 2022/23
      • Nordic League 2021/22
      • Nordic Women’s League 2022
    • GERMANY
    • AUSTRIA 🇦🇹
      • Bundesliga Women
      • Bundesliga Men
      • Supercup
      • Cup
      • Regionalliga Ost
      • U-21 Women
      • U-19
      • U-17
      • U-15
      • U-13
      • U-12
      • U-11
    • SLOVENIA 🇸🇮
      • Slovenian championship 2022/23
      • Slovenian Cup 2022/23
    • FINLAND 🇫🇮
      • Championship
      • U-13
      • U-15
      • U-17
    • AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
      • Sydney Super League 2.0 Men
      • Sydney Super League 2.0 Women
    • ROMANIA 🇷🇴
      • Superliga Națională – Romanian Water Polo League 2022/23
      • Superliga Națională
    • ICELAND 🇮🇸
      • Winter League Men 2021
      • Winter League Women 2021
    • LITHUANIA 🇱🇹
      • Championships
      • Nordic Junior CH U17
      • Nordic Junior CH U15
    • Total Waterpolo Trophy U-15
    • RWL
      • Premier League 21/22
      • A1 League 21/22
  • National
    • Spain
    • Hungary
    • Italy
    • France
    • Germany
    • Netherlands
  • International
    • Tokyo 2020 Olympic Water Polo
    • World Championships
      • Budapest 2022 Men
      • Budapest 2022 Women
      • FINA World Men’s Junior Championships Prague 2021
      • Gwangju 2019
      • Budapest 2017
    • European Championships
      • Split 2022 – M
      • Split 2022 – W
      • Budapest 2020
      • Barcelona 2018
    • Other
      • World League – Belgrade 2019
      • World Cup – Berlin 2018
      • Junior WC Prague 2021
      • Junior EC Podgorica 2022
      • Montenegro Cup 2022 (U16)
  • LEN Champions League
    • LEN Champions League 2022/23
    • LEN Champions League 2019/2020
    • LEN Champions League 2018/2019
  • Total Player Award
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
✕

Men’s Europa Cup 2018, Prelims – Preview

February 14, 2018
Mens Europa Cup 2018 Prelim

Saturday Night Fever is back!

All European superpowers of men’s water polo entered the inaugural Europa Cup, LEN’s new premium competition for national teams. The prelims will already feature a handful of outstanding clashes including the ever-outstanding encounter of Croatia and Serbia.

 With 14 top teams aboard, the prelims of the Europa Cup virtually equal the quality of a European Championships – though the playing format is different and of course the sides will play at three different venues, in Hungary, Croatia, and Italy respectively.

Group A

In Group A World Championship silver medallist Hungary can enjoy a relatively easier cruise, especially at home as their usual arch-rivals have been drawn to the other groups. Still, the reshaping team of Spain can cause them some headaches, while France and Romania should play a fierce clash to book the third qualifying spot and perhaps Georgia will also have a word or two.

Group B

Group B in Split will witness thrilling action as Serbia and Croatia meet again. These two played the finals of the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Olympics, Serbia was superior both times but the Croats finally stroke back last summer as they beat their fellows in an unforgettable semifinal at the Worlds in Budapest. It’s going to be another showdown, this time between the reigning World Champion and the Olympic Champion, in front of the enthusiastic fans of Split – it’s going to be an amazing match. And one cannot overlook the third giant in this group, Greece, World bronze medallist in 2015, they can upset any team on any given day. Here the Netherlands and Malta don’t have any real chance to catch up with the big boys, though these games will be perfect preparations for them for the upcoming play-off matches in the European Championships qualifications.

Group C

Some exciting clashes are also foreseen in Palermo where host Italy, bronze medallist at the Rio Olympics, and Montenegro, runner-up at the 2016 Europeans, are the top favorites to go through (from here the top two ranked sides qualify). However, the leading clubs of Russia and Germany produced some stunning results in the current season of the Champions League, perhaps their national teams are also set to cause surprises too.

According to the schedules (Group A and B kick off on Thursday, Group C on Friday), the Saturday Night Fever will be back: that evening will feature the games Hungary v Spain, Croatia v Serbia and Italy v Montenegro.

The next stage of the new premium competition is the Super Final with eight teams to be held on 5-8 April (venue to be announced after the prelims). LEN offers €40,000 in prize money for the top three with the Europa Cup winner cashing in €20,000.

Men’s Group Stage

15-18 February 2018

Group A (Kecskemét [flag=hu])
Hungary [flag=hu]
Spain [flag=es]
France [flag=fr]
Romania [flag=ro]
Georgia [flag=ge]
Group B (Split [flag=hr])
Serbia [flag=rs]
Croatia [flag=hr]
Greece [flag=gr]
Netherlands [flag=nl]
Malta [flag=mt]
Group C (Palermo [flag=it])
Montenegro [flag=me]
Russia [flag=ru]
Italy [flag=it]
Germany [flag=de]

Schedule

Thursday, 15th February 2018

Group A (Kecskemet [flag=hu])

18.30[flag=ro] Romania
[flag=fr] France
20.00[flag=hu] Hungary
[flag=ge] Georgia

Group B (Split [flag=hr])

17.30[flag=mt] Malta
[flag=rs] Serbia
19.00[flag=gr] Greece
[flag=hr] Croatia


Friday, 16th February 2018


Group A (Kecskemet [flag=hu])

18.30[flag=ge] Georgia
[flag=es] Spain
20.00[flag=hu] Hungary
[flag=ro] Romania

Group B (Split [flag=hr])

10.30[flag=nl] Netherlands
[flag=mt] Malta
17.30[flag=rs] Serbia
[flag=gr] Greece
19.00[flag=hr] Croatia
[flag=nl] Netherlands

Group C (Palermo [flag=it])

18.00[flag=me] Montenegro
[flag=ru] Russia
19.30[flag=it] Italy
[flag=de] Germany


Saturday, 17th February 2018


Group A (Kecskemet [flag=hu])

10.00[flag=ro] Romania
[flag=ge] Georgia
11.30[flag=fr] France
[flag=es] Spain
18.30[flag=ge] Georgia
[flag=fr] France
20.00[flag=hu] Hungary
[flag=es] Spain

Group B (Split [flag=hr])

10.30[flag=rs] Serbia
[flag=nl] Netherlands
17.30[flag=gr] Greece
[flag=mt] Malta
19.00[flag=hr] Croatia
[flag=rs] Serbia

Group C (Palermo [flag=it])

17.00[flag=de] Germany
[flag=ru] Russia
20.00[flag=me] Montenegro
[flag=it] Italy


Sunday, 18th February 2018


Group A (Kecskemet [flag=hu])

10.00[flag=es] Spain
[flag=ro] Romania
11.30[flag=hu] Hungary
[flag=fr] France

Group B (Split [flag=hr])

10.00[flag=nl] Netherlands
[flag=gr] Greece
11.30[flag=mt] Malta
[flag=hr] Croatia

Group C (Palermo [flag=it])

18.00[flag=de] Germany
[flag=me] Montenegro
19.30[flag=it] Italy
[flag=ru] Russia

 

The first three ranked teams from group A and B and first two ranked teams from Group C will qualify to the Super Final.

 

For live streaming, live scoring and detailed statistics visit www.len.eu

TW Press
TW Press

Related posts

May 5, 2020

All LEN European water polo cups for season 2019/20 are canceled


Read more
April 17, 2019

14 National Teams Fight For Trophy in Brno (CZ) at EU Nations Cup U-17


Read more
April 8, 2019

Russia and The Netherlands Advance To The Final – Europa-Cup Final


Read more

Featured Projects

Learn More

Learn More

Custom Team Gear

LEARN MORE

Shop Now

Looking for something?

✕
  • Slobodan Soro: We trust our coach Zivko Gocic and accept his decisions
  • Gocić suspends Dusan Mandic
  • Great weekend for UZSC; two favorites fall in Utrecht
  • Aussie Stingers announce World Cup squad
  • Hannover upsets Spandau and retains German Cup
  • Home
  • Water Polo News
  • WearWaterpolo Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Project Superstar – TW Camp
  • BIWPA
  • Custom Team Equipment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2021 Total Waterpolo. All Rights Reserved.
Total Waterpolo Arena