Many one-sided contests on Day 3 of women’s tournament in Singapore, favorites meet expectations

The last day of the group stage at the women’s tournament at the World Championships lacked excitement.

Almost each of today’s eight games quickly turned into a one-sided contest. All the outcomes were as predicted. Spain won 1st place in Group D, while Australia finished atop Group A and advanced to the quarterfinals, joining Team USA and Hungary, which secured the top spots in their respective groups after Day 2.

Olympic champion Spain confirmed 1st place in Group D with a 16:7 win over Great Britain. Australia defeated New Zealand in the Oceania derby by nine goals (15:6) to stay atop Group A.

The most balanced match of Day 3 was the game between the Netherlands and China. However, this match was far from an exciting duel. China played well, but the Netherlands recorded a 13:7 victory, securing  2nd place in Group B, behind Team USA

Greece maintained 2nd place in Group C, beating Japan in a high-scoring match, 25:15. Hungary finished atop the group.

Road to medals

• Crossover round (July 17): Italy– China (Match 1), New Zealand– Netherlands (Match 2), Greece– France (Match 3), Japan– Great Britain (Match 4)
• Quarterfinals (July 19): Australia– winner Match 3 (OF1), USA– winner Match 4 (QF2), Hungary– winner Match 1 (QF3), Spain – winner Match 2 (QF4).
• Semifinals (July 21): winners QF1 – QF2, winners QF3 – QF4.
• Final Day (July 23)

13th-16th place classification, semifinals (July 17): Singapore – Argentina, Croatia – South Africa.

2025 World Women’s Water Polo Championships, Day 3

A Group A

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Australia – New Zealand 15:6 (4:0, 3:2, 5:1, 3:3)

Australia: Hearn 3, Williams 3, Jackovich 3, Halligan 2, A.Andrews 2, C. Andrews 2.
New Zealand: Houghton 3, MdDowall 1, Nicholson 1, Spark 1.

New Zealand troubled Italy on Day 1. The Italians, who found themselves two goals down in the middle of the third period, managed to secure a win only in the final 12 minutes.

In contrast, Australia approached the Oceanian derby with the right mindset. The “Stingers” did not leave the decision to the final period. Australia quickly established its dominance, building a 4:0 lead in the first quarter. Although the Australians slowed down in the second period, they continued to increase their advantage throughout the game.

All in all, the final result isn’t so bad for New Zealand, especially when considering the statistics. The “Kiwis” didn’t score from any of their five extra-player shots. They were better in a penalty shot conversion – two goals from three attempts. New Zealand committed nine personal fouls, and Australia scored after almost each of these, with an excellent power-play conversion (5/6) and without a miss from the 5m line (2/2).

Italy – Singapore 32:5 (8:0, 8:1, 6:1, 10:3)

Italy: Cocchiere 6, Ranalli 5, Di Maria 4, Cergol 3, Giustini 3, Bianconi 3, Cordovani 2, Leone 2, Gant 1, Bettini 1, Millo 1, Meggiato 1.
Singapore: Lee 2, Yap 1, Yeo 1, Wan 1.

Italy had a light training session ahead of their matchup against China, the top team from Asia, in the crossover round. The hosts were highly motivated, but the fact that they committed only three personal fouls—two of which were penalty fouls—highlights how Singapore’s players are physically inferior to the world’s best teams. However, it was just one of many factors that made the difference, as Italy scored even ten goals from counterattacks.

Standings: 1. Australia 9, 2. Italy 6, 3. New Zealand 3, 4. Singapore 0.

 

B Group B

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China – Netherlands 7:13 (2:3, 1:2, 2:4, 2:4)

China: Yan 3, S. Wang 1, Shao 1, X.Wang 1, J. Zhang 1.
Netherlands: Van der Sloot 4, B.Rogge 2, Joustra 2, Sevenich 1, Bosveld 1, Van de Kraats 1, L. Rogge 1.

The duel between China, the best Asian team, and the Netherlands, the 2023 world champion, was the most interesting match of the day. However, the favorite controlled the match and recorded a comfortable victory.

Dutch captain Sabrina van der Sloot led her team, scoring all three goals for her team in a 3:2 first quarter. China was keeping up with the Europeans for a quarter and a half. It equalized at 3:3, but following that goal, the Netherlands went on a 4:0 run between the 11th and 21st minute and established a solid 7:4 lead. After a long goalless phase,the Chinese scored their fourth goal a minute and 46 seconds before the final break. However, the Netherlands regained a four-goal lead by the end of this period (9:5) and didn’t let China come back.

The Dutch showed their class, but China delivered an encouraging performance.

Argentina – USA 3:26 (1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 0:5)

Argentina: Auliel 1, Sol Canda 1, Bacigalupo 1.
USA: Stryker 6, Sekulic 4, Prentice 3, Flynn 2,Roemer 2, Lineback 2, Ausmus 2, Gazzaniga 2, Bonaguidi 1, Woodhead 1, Allen 1.

There aren’t many details to highlight about the game between the USA and Argentina, but one noteworthy aspect is the number of personal fouls. Argentina committed 17 personal fouls, including eight penalty fouls, which tells a lot about the South Americans’ inexperience. USA converted all eight penalty shots and six extra player shots. The USA committed nine personal fouls, Argentina converted its only penalty, and one of five extra players.

Standings: 1. USA 9, 2. Netherlands 6, 3. China 3, 4. Argentina 0.

C Group C

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Greece – Japan 25:15 (6:3, 6:3, 6:4, 7:5)

Greece: Myriokefalitaki 7, Tricha 4, Santa 3, V.Plevritou 3, Koureta 2, Krassa 2,, Giannopoulou 2, Xenaki 1Eleftheriadou 1,
Japan: Kawaguchi 5, Arima 3, Ura 2, Shitara 2,Kobayashi 2, Inaba 1.

The Japanese usually score many goals, but their defense lacks effective responses in clashes with European powerhouses.

The game between Greece and Japan was very similar to the match between Hungary and Japan (33:13). Japan scored the first goal in the match. Still, Greece responded with four straight goals to earn a three-goal advantage (4:1). The Europeans doubled their lead by the middle of the second quarter (10:4) and, step by step, increased the margin to ten.

Japan had more attempts to score – 35 – four more than Greece, but the Asian team’s goalkeeper combined only three saves, while Greece’s goalkeeper Stamatopolou blocked 13 shots. There was a noticeable difference in the number of exclusions: Greece committed 14 personal fouls, while Japan only committed three. However, Japan converted three of nine extra player shots and successfully made all three penalty shots.

Hungary – Croatia 6:22 (2:9, 2:5, 1:5, 1:3)
Croatia: Rozic 4, Jankovic 2.
Hungary: Keszthelyi 4, Garda 4 Varro 3, Leimeter 2, Hajdu 2, Szilagyi 2, Valyi 2, Peresztegi-Nagy 1, Sumegi 1 Domsodi 1

The last match of the group stage had no impact on the standings. Hungary had already cemented 1st place, while Croatia couldn’t move from the bottom of the table.

Hungary needed less than two minutes to earn a 2:0 lead. But Iva Rozic replied by scoring two goals within 42 seconds to level the score. However, that was the end of an even contest. Every Hungary’s possession in the rest of the quarter ended with a goal, while the Croats couldn’t find the net, so the favorites headed into the second quarter with a 9:2 lead. By the middle of the second period, the Hungarians reached a double-digit lead (12:2). Croatia started recovering from a 0:10 series and managed to score twice in this quarter.

Hungary proved to be far more experienced than the young Croatian team, which will have a good chance to achieve its first win(s) at the World Championships in the 13th-16th place classification. The Croats are likely the favorites among the four lowest-placed teams. Despite convincing losses, the Croats have played better and better since the start of the Championships.

Standings: 1. Hungary 9, 2. Greece 6, 3. Japan 3, 4. Croatia 0.

D Group D

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Great Britain – Spain 7:16 (0:4, 1:3, 5:3, 1:6)

Great Britain: Blenkinship 2, Howe 2, Turner 2, Clapperton 1.
Spain: E. Ruiz 3, Rodriguez 2, B. Ortiz 2,Camus 2, Leiton 2, Gonzalez1 Moreno 1, Espar 1, Perez 1, Penalver 1.

After scoring 46 goals in the first two days (a 23:4 victory over South Africa and a 23:6 win over France), Spain faced a more challenging test today. However, the Olympic champions proved too strong for the rising Great Britain water polo team.

The Spaniards opened the game with a 5:0 lead. Early in the third period, they had an 8:1 advantage. The third quarter belonged to the Brits, but Spain came back to blow them away in the fourth period.

The goalkeepers of Great Britain, Jackson and Ball, had a good day, posting 11 saves and preventing Spain from achieving a more convincing win.

South Africa – France 6:13 (1:4, 2:3, 3:3,0:3)

South Africa: Banks 2, Eccles 1, Loizides 1, Williams 1, Meecham 1.
France: Hardy 3, Heurtaux 3, Vernoux 3, Andres 2, Radosavljevic 1, Ouchache 1.

France quickly earned a significant advantage. By the fifth minute, the French led 3:0. Eight minutes later, they had a 7:2 advantage. France let South Africa score five goals in the middle two quarters, but the difference was never smaller than three goals.

Standings: 1. Spain 9, 2. Great Britain 6, 3. France 3, 4. South Africa 0.

Stay tuned to Total Waterpolo for full live coverage from Singapore 2025 — with real-time scoring, deep statistics, and all the stories that matter. You won’t miss a single goal, save, or surprise.

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