While there were no medals at stake for Italy and Israel, they both won their last games at the U19 Women’s European Championships to finish 5th and 7th respectively.
The Italians took revenge over the French, who beat them earlier in the competition, with a blistering last quarter, while the hosts Israel will be very satisfied with the conclusion of their tournament, dominating Croatia in front of their home crowd for the last time at these championships.
The Junior Setterosa won their game against France, but had to come from two goals down in the last quarter to secure 5th place.
Early goals in the last period from Paola Di Maria, Morena Leone and Aurora Longo put France back at 12-12, before another score from Morena Leone (via a 5m penalty), and three other unanswered goals via Paganello and Klatowski (2) ensured Italy ended the competition on a high.
Photo: Total Waterpolo/ Luiza Moraes
Elsewhere, everyone involved with water polo in Israel will be greatly encouraged by the feats of their U19 team, who finished 7th at the competition with a thumping result over Croatia this afternoon.
It was hat-trick central for the Israeli’s: with Noga Levinshtein, Dar Menakerman, Dina Namakshtansky and Noa Sasover all converting three times.
The win for Dimirtrios Mavrotas’ side will confirm Israel’s best ever finish at a European championships, and sends a clear message that the sport is heading in the right direction in the country set to host the Senior European Championships in 2024.
Photo: Total Waterpolo/ Luiza Moraes
Italy 16-13 France (4-2, 3-4, 2-5, 7-2)
Italy: H. Santapaola, P. Di Maria 1, D. Spampinato, M. Leone 5, M. Paganello 1, E. De March 3, G. Klatowski 2, A. Longo 1, V. Sbruzzi 1, V. Santoro, M. Giuffrida 2, L. Papi, L. Celona
France: P. Martineaud-Peret, J. Dhalluin2, T. Margueritte 2, C. Bouloukbachi 5, J. Mekki, L. Jean-Michel, L. Andres, V. Heurtaux 1, E. Vernoux 1, S. Khaddan 1, T. Raspo, L. Di Fraja, C. Vidal
Israel 14-6 Croatia (5-1, 2-1, 5-2, 2-2)
Israel: N. Kurtsev, T. Levi 1, C. Arbiv, N. Levinshtein 3, O. Sela, A. Yaacobi 1, D. Menakerman 3, D. Namakshtansky 3, N. Sasover 3, N. Markovsky, R. Gazit, M. Katz
Croatia: L. Medvessek, E. Crnicki, N. Eterovic 1, J. Butic 2, A. Stipanov, R. Glas, N. Medic, K. Juresa, A. Desnica, I. Rozic 1, D. Kangler 1, A. Maric
