Romania, Germany, Georgia, Turkey, France, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and Malta have qualified for the European U19 Men’s Championships that will take place in Podgorica in September.
The four qualification tournaments were held in Bucharest (Romania), Kosice (Slovakia), Tbilisi (Georgia), and Gzira (Malta) this and the previous week. Sixteen teams took part.
Three teams – Romania, France, and the Netherlands finished the qualifications in their groups with perfect records. Besides these three sides, Georgia and Turkey remained unbeaten.
The best eight teams from the qualifications joined the nations that finished in 1st-7th places at the previous European Championships, held in Minsk in 2018.
Pre-qualified: Greece, Montenegro, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Hungary (the teams ranked 1st – 7th at the 2018 European Championships in Minsk).
Russia finished 8th in Minsk in 2018. But, Russia has been excluded from LEN competitions, so there is one vacant place. LEN hasn’t announced which team will fill the vacancy yet. But, if LEN applies the same formula as for the European Championships in Split, the Czech Republic will replace Russia as the best third-placed team. The Czech Republic has the best average of points among the third-placed teams (1,75 per game).
There will be no qualifications for the WOmen’s U19 Championships ( Netanya, Israel, July 3 -9). There were 18 entries, and the LEN TWPC decided that all teams would participate in the Europeans.
2022 European Men’s U19 Championships, Qualifications
Group A (Bucharest, Romania)
Germany – Bulgaria 16:3 (4:0, 1:0, 5:1, 6:2)
Romania – Bulgaria 17:3 (5:1, 3:1, 4:0, 5:1)
Germany – Romania 5:6 (2:1,0:0, 2:3, 1:2)
Only three teams played in Bucharest. Belarus was drawn into this group, but the athletes from Belarus have been suspended meanwhile.
Romania and Germany beat Bulgaria easily. The hosts recorded a narrow victory over the Germans in the match that was decisive for 1st place.
1. Romania 2 – 6
2. Germany 2 – 3
3. Bulgaria 2 – 0
Group B (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Turkey – Ukraine 12:10 (3:5, 1:2, 3:2, 5:1)
Georgia – Lithuania 17:7 (2:2, 6:2, 5:2, 4:1)
Lithuania – Turkey 7:20 (2:6, 1:7, 3:6, 1:1)
Georgia – Ukraine 19:8 (5:2, 4:3, 6:2, 4:1)
Ukraine – Lithuania 15:5 (3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 3:2)
Georgia – Turkey 14:14 (4:1, 2:4, 4:6, 4:3)
Host Georgia secured 1st place in Tbilisi. The Georgians and the Turks had six points each before the derby of the last round. Georgia won a point, scoring an equalizer with 31 seconds to go, and stayed atop the group because of a better goal difference.
Third-placed Ukraine had to prepare for the tournament far from home – in Hungary. The Hungarian Water Polo Federation offered financial support to the Ukrainians, who trained in Szentes with a local club.
1. Georgia 3 – 7 (+21)
2. Turkey 3 – 7 (+15)
3. Ukraine 3 – 3
4. Lithuania 3 – 0
Group C (Kosice, Slovakia)
France – Czech Republic 20:5 (4:1, 8:1, 3:2, 5:1)
Slovakia – Switzerland 22:4 (6:1, 5:1, 6:1, 5:1)
Czech Republic – Switzerland 15:6 (3:1, 3:1, 4:3, 5:1)
France – Slovenia 11:8 (3:2, 2:3, 3:2, 3:1)
Switzerland- France 6:20 (0:6, 1:5, 1:4, 4:5)
Slovakia – Slovenia 15:8 (4:1, 6:1, 1:2, 4:4)
Slovenia – Switzerland 17:4 (4:3, 4:1, 5:0, 4:0)
Slovakia – Czech Republic 7:7 (3:1,1:1,3:3, 0:2)
Czech Republic – Slovenia 8:6 (1:1, 2:3, 2:1, 3:1)
Slovakia – France 9:13 (4:4, 0:4, 1:3, 4:2)
There were several interesting games in Kosice, at the only tournament with five teams.
France managed to collect all 12 points. Neighbors Slovakia and the Czech Republic finished the tournament, winning seven points each, since their encounter ended in a 7:7 draw. Slovakia won 2nd place because of a better goal difference. Convincing wins over Slovenia and Switzerland proved crucial for Slovakia to finish 2nd. In addition, Slovakia avoided a big loss to France, which recorded a 15-goal victory over the Czech Republic.
However, as already mentioned, the Czech Republic may get a wild card for the Championships in Podgorica. But, let’s wait for an official decision.
1.France 4 – 12
2. Slovakia 4 – 7 (+21)
3. Czech Republic 4 – 7 (-4)
4. Slovenia 4 – 3
5. Switzerland 4 – 0
Group D (Gzira, Malta)
Netherlands – Great Britain 20:4 (5:2, 5:1, 6:0, 4:1)
Malta – Finland 22:6 (5:1, 8:2, 3:0, 6:3)
Netherlands – Finland 29:3 (8:1, 7:0, 10:0, 4:2)
Malta – Great Britain 9:6 (4:3, 2:1, 2:0, 1:2)
Finland – Great Britaiin 6:15 (1:3, 2:2, 1:4, 2:6)
Malta – Netherlands 7:12 (2:2, 2:5, 1:3, 2:2)
The Netherlands cruised to 1st place in the tournament of Group D, which was played last week. Malta joined the Dutch thanks to a solid 9:6 victory over Great Britain.
1. Netherlands 3 – 9
2. Malta 3 – 6
3. Great Britain 3 – 3
4. Finland 3 – 0
