🛒 Shop the best Water Polo Gear now! →
🤑 10% off on selected briefs & merch 🤑
Support the Total Waterpolo mission!
TW-Brandmark-Whitex2
  • News
  • SINGAPORE 2025
    • Men’s tournament
    • Women’s tournament
  • Results

    National

    • Montenegro
      • Montenegrin League 2024/25
      • Montenegrin Cup 24/25
      • Montenegrin League 23/24
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic League Men 24/25
      • Nordic Trophy Men 2024/25
      • Nordic League Women 2024/25
      • Nordic League 23/24
      • Qualifications
    • Slovenia
      • Slovenian League 24/25
      • Slovenian League 23/24
    • Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong 24/25 – Women
      • Hong Kong 24/25 – Men
    • Austria
      • Austrian League 2025 – Men
      • Austrian League 23/24 – Women
      • Austrian League 23/24 – Men
    • Lithuania
      • Lithuanian League ’24
    • Latvia
      • Latvian Championship 2024
    • France
      • French League 23/24 – Men
    • Spain
      • Spanish League 23/24 – Men
    • Hungary
      • Hungarian League 23/24 – Men
    • Italy
      • Italian League 23/24 – Men

    International

    • SINGAPORE 2025
      • Women
      • Men
    • LEN Champions League
      • Men 24/25
      • Men 23/24
    • World Cup 2025
      • Men
    • AWL
      • Alpe Waterpolo League 2024/25
      • Alpe Waterpolo League 2023/24
      • Alpe Waterpolo League 2022/23
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic League Men 2024/25
      • Nordic Trophy Men 2024/25
      • Nordic League Women 2024/25
      • Nordic League 2023/24
      • Nordic Trophy 2023/24
    • NCAA
      • Men’s Finals 2024
      • Men’s Finals 2023
    • Oympic Games
      • Tokyo 2020
        • Women
        • Men
      • Paris 2024
        • Olympic Tournament – Men
        • Olympic Tournament – Women
    • World Championships
      • Doha 2024
        • Women
        • Men
      • Fukuoka 2023
        • Women
        • Men
      • Budapest 2022
        • Women
        • Men
    • European Championships
      • Eindhoven 2024 – Women
      • Zagreb / Dubrovnik 2024 – Men
      • Split 2022
        • Women
        • Men
      • Budapest 2020

    Amateur & Junior Divisions

    • Summer Cup 2025
    • Nordic League U16 2024/25
    • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U10
    • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U12
    • Masters Cup 2025

    Total Waterpolo Arena livescoring app: Stay in the game with real-time updates and stats for your next tournament.

    Contact Us
    • Champions League
      • Season 24/25
      • Season 23/24
      • Season 22/23
    • International
      • World Cup 2025 Men
      • European Championships
        • Eindhoven 2024 – Women
        • Croatia 2024 – Men
        • Split 2022
          • Women
          • Men
        • Budapest 2020
        • Barcelona 2018
      • World Championships
        • Doha 2024
          • Women
          • Men
        • Fukuoka 2023
          • Women
          • Men
        • Budapest 2022
          • Women
          • Men
      • Olympics
        • Tokyo 2020
          • Women
          • Men
        • Paris 2024
          • Women
          • Men
      • NCAA
        • NCAA Men’s Finals 2024
        • NCAA Men’s Finals 2023
      • Pacific Cup 2024
    • National
      • Montenegro
        • Montenegrin League 2024/25
        • Montenegrin Cup 2024/25
      • Austria
        • Austrian League 2025 – Men
        • Austrian League 2024 – Women
        • Austrian League 2024 – Men
      • Nordic League
        • Nordic League Men 2024/25
        • Nordic League Women 2024/25
        • Nordic League U16 2024/25
        • Nordic Trophy Men 2024/25
        • Nordic League 2023/24
        • Nordic Trophy 2023/24
      • Hong Kong
        • Hong Kong Women’s League 24/25
        • Hong Kong Men’s League 24/25
      • AWL
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2024/25
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2023/24
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2022/23
      • Slovenia
      • Lithuania
      • Latvia
      • Hungarian League 2023 – Men
      • French League 2023 – Men
      • Spanish League 2023 – Men
      • Italian League 2023 – Men
    • Masters
      • Masters Cup 2025
      • VAL League 2024/25
      • Sabac Masters 2024
      • Masters Cup 2024
      • Budva Masters 2024
    • Junior
      • DSV 98 Cup 2025
      • Summer Cup 2025
      • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U12
      • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U10
      • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus 2025
      • Next Generation 2024 – Men
      • Next Generation 2024 -Women
      • HaBaWaBa Easter 2024 (U10)
      • HaBaWaBa Easter 2024 (U12)
      • HabaWaba Spain Plus 2024
      • Plejade
      • Dobri Dupin
  • Transfers
  • Shop

    WearWaterpolo™ Webshop

    • Webshop
    • Men’s Briefs
    • Women’s Suits
    • Apparel
    • Game Balls
    • About

    Partner up with Total Waterpolo, the leading international water polo network worldwide and take your team gear to the next level. Our products are made to endure the harshest conditions from pro leagues around the world to your local squad rivalries. We can't wait to join your team!

    Get Total Waterpolo for your Team
  • Total Player
    • Total Player 2024
    • Total Player 2023
    • Total Player 2022
    • Total Player 2021
    • Total Player 2020
    • Total Player 2019
    • Total Player 2018
    • Total Player 2017
SINGAPORE 2025
Support Us

Unbeaten runners-up and titles decided on goal difference

April 27, 2020

Everybody who loves sport knows what the term “lucky loser” means. A lucky loser is an athlete or a team that loses a match in the qualifying round, but that later still gets a chance to battle for a medal.

Our new article in the series of stories about the water polo history isn’t a story about lucky losers, but something completely different.

From the 1930s to the 1980s, there were no medal matches at most of the major water polo competitions. The best four (sometimes the best six, or even eight) teams of the tournaments competed in the final groups, which were organized on a round-robin basis.

In a round-robin system with a relatively small number of matches, a goal difference was often necessary to determine the rankings. Sometimes, the goal difference was crucial in the battle for the gold medal.

Several times, a team didn’t suffer a loss but didn’t climb the highest step of the podium.

This is an article about the teams which finished the tournaments unbeaten but didn’t manage to win the gold medal.

Olympic Games

Berlin, 1936

Awarding ceremony after the water polo tournament in Berlin was held in the Olympic Stadium Photo: Official Olympic report

In Berlin, in 1936, the two best teams were equal in points for the first time in the Olympic water polo history. Hungary and Germany collected five points each (two wins and a draw). The encounter between the two sides was ended in a 2:2 draw. Germany had a superior goal difference, but Hungary won the gold since the goal average, not the goal difference, was used to determine the ranking.

Final group: 1.Hungary 5 pts (goal difference 10:2, goal average 5.0), 2. Germany 5 (g.d. 14:4, g.a. 3.5), 3. Belgium 2, 4. France 0.

Helsinki, 1952

Hungary won the Olympic gold medal in Helsinki in 1952 ahead of Yugoslavia, thanks to a goal difference.

These two neighbors met in the semifinal group. The score was 2:2, and that draw was carried to the final group.

The Hungarians were very convincing in both their matches in the final group (a 7:2 win over Italy, and 4:0 against the USA), and Yugoslavia recorded two 2-goal wins (4:2 against the USA and 3:1 against Italy) and Hungary finished 1st.

Final group: 1. Hungary 5 (13:4), 2. Yugoslavia 5 (9:5), 3. Italy 2, 4. USA 0.

Packed stands during the Olympic tournament in Helsinki in 1952. Photo: Official Olympic report

Tokyo 1964

The finish of the water polo tournament at the 1964 Olympic Games was very similar to the endings of the competition held in Helsinki 12 years earlier.

Hungary and Yugoslavia faced off in the semifinal group. Yugoslavia led 3:0 and 4:3, but Hungary secured a point in the last quarter – 4:4.

Both teams advanced to the final group. Hungary beat Italy 3:1 on Day 1 of the final group. Yugoslavia also recorded a 2-goal victory (2:0 over USSR). On the last day, Yugoslavia defeated Italy narrowly (2:1), while Hungary played against the USSR in the last game of the tournament. After the third quarter, the score was 2:2. The Hungarians scored three unanswered goals in the fourth period for a 5:2 win and secured the gold medal. Their goal difference was +5, and Yugoslavia had +3.

Match Hungary-USSR in Tokyo 1964 Photo: Waterpolo Legends/FB

Final group: 1. Hungary 5 (12:7), 2. Yugoslavia 5 (8:5), 3. USSR 2, 4. Italy 0.

Munich 1972

The goal difference and the goal average helped Hungary to win the Olympic titles in 1936, 1952, and 1964. But, this kind of luck wasn’t on the Hungarians’ side at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Forty-eight years ago in Munich, Hungary was the team that didn’t suffer a loss but returned home with no gold medal.

Six teams played in the final group.

The first place was decided in the last game of the tournament USSR vs. Hungary. Before the final day, each of the teams had 7 points (three wins and a draw). The Soviet Union bettered West Germany (4:2), Yugoslavia (5:4), and Italy (4:1) and shared the points with the United States (6:6). Hungary recorded victories over the USA (5:3), Yugoslavia (4:2), and Italy (8:7), while the encounter between the Hungarians and the Germans ended with no winner (3:3).

The Soviet Union had a better goal difference by just a goal a day before the end. So Hungary had to defeat the Soviets in the last game to climb into the 1st place. The Hungarians got a good start and led 3:1. Still, the match ended with no winner – 3:3 and the USSR team clinched its first Olympic gold medal in water polo.

Final group: 1. USSR 8 (22:16), 2. Hungary 8 (23:18), 3. USA 6, 4. West Germany 3 (15:18), 5. Yugoslavia 3 (20:24), 6. Italy 2.

Hungary Munich 1972

Photo: Panini sticker

Los Angeles 1984

In Los Angeles in 1984, the final group was played for the last time at the major competitions.

The Games were closed by the encounter between Yugoslavia and the USA. Before this match, the two teams recorded 6 wins (3 in the preliminary stage and 3 in the final group) and they were equaled in points (8 points in the final group). But, Yugoslavia was in advantage because of the goal difference (Yugoslavia had +14, USA +9). The Yugoslavs needed a point to keep the 1st position.

Yugoslavia had a slim 2:1 advantage early in the second quarter of the game against the Americans. However, Team USA responded with four goals in a row and jumped to a 5:2 lead in the middle of the third quarter. But, the Yugoslavs came back. They kept the hosts goalless in the remaining time and scored three goals to take a valuable point. The match ended in a tie – 5:5 and a point was enough for Yugoslavia to retain the 1st place in the final group and to win the gold medal.

Final group: 1. Yugoslavia 9 (47:33), 2. USA 9 (43:34), 3. West Germany 5, 4. Spain 4, 5. Australia 3, 6. Netherlands 0.

Team USA, silver medalist in Los Angeles Photo Pepperdine University

 

European Championships

Paris, 1931

The goal difference wasn’t crucial in a hunt for the gold medal, but the runner-up didn’t suffer a loss at the 3rd European Championships in Paris. Germany, the reigning Olympic champion, and Hungary, which won silver at the 1928 Olympic Games, were favorites for the gold medal.

Their encounter in Paris was ended with no winner (2:2). Hungary recorded five wins in the other five games. Germany also remained unbeaten, but with four wins and two ties (2:2 in the match against Hungary, and 3:3 against Belgium) and had to satisfy with the silver medal.

Final ranking: 1. Hungary 11, 2. Germany 10, 3. Austria 6, 4. Belgium 5, 5. Czechoslovakia 4, 6. France 3 (14:27), 7. Sweden 3 (13:28).

Turin, 1954

The eight European Championship was held in Turin (Italy). Four teams played in the group for the title.

Hungary and Yugoslavia carried a 3:3 draw from the semifinal to the final group. Yugoslavia defeated Italy 3:1 and Netherlands 4:0 in the group for the title, but Hungary was more convincing. The Hungarians achieved an 8:3 victory over the Netherlands and 8:1 against Italy and won the gold.

Final group: 1. Hungary 5 (19:7), 2. Yugoslavia 5 (10:4), 3. Italy 2, 4. Netherlands 0.

Leipzig, 1962

The water polo tournament at the 1962 European Championships in Leipzig offered a very balanced battle for medals.

Hungary won five points in the final group (wins over Yugoslavia 3:2, and East Germany 4:3 and a 2:2 draw in the game against the USSR).

The Hungarians clinched the gold, while the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia shared the silver medal. USSR completed the tournament with no loss, but the Soviets didn’t achieve a win in the final group (2:2 against Hungary, 2:2 against East Germany, and the “carried” draw with Yugoslavia from the semifinals -3:3). Yugoslavia suffered a loss to Hungary  -2:3, but defeated East Germany 1:0. USSR and Yugoslavia finished the group with the same number of points – 3, and the same goal difference and they shared the silver medal. The bronze wasn’t awarded.

According to today’s rules, Yugoslavia would secure silver, while the USSR would finish 3rd because a victory in the LEN’s competitions is worth 3 points. Yugoslavia would have 4, and the USSR 3 points.

Final group: 1. Hungary 5, 2. USSR 3 (7:7), 2. Yugoslavia 3 (6:6), 4. East Germany 1.

Strasbourg, 1987

Eight teams played a round-robin tournament in the group for the title at the 1987 European Championships in Strasbourg. The Soviet Union won the gold. It was just a point ahead of Yugoslavia.

Although Yugoslavia wasn’t defeated, it didn’t clinch the winning trophy. The goal difference wasn’t decisive, but the number of draws. Yugoslavia and USSR shared the points (9:9) on the last day. Before that game, the team of the Soviet Union beat all other rivals, while Yugoslavia recorded five wins and took a point in the match against Italy (7:7).

Final ranking: 1. USSR 13, 2. Yugoslavia 12, 3. Italy 11, 4. West Germany 8, 5. Hungary 6, 6. Spain 4, 7. Romania 2, 8. Bulgaria 0.

 

World Championships

Guayaquil, 1982

The goal difference didn’t decide the gold-medal winner at the 4th World Championships in Guayaquil (Ecuador). However, one team remained unbeaten but didn’t win the title.

The Soviet Union won the gold, with five points in the final group (wins over the Netherlands – 7:5 and West Germany 11:8 and a 7:7 draw in the match with Hungary). Hungary also didn’t suffer a loss at the Championships, but it collected a point less than USSR in the final group. Hungary beat Netherlands 7:6 and shared the points with Germany (7:7) to finish in the silver position.

Final group: 1. USSR 5, 2. Hungary 4, 3. West Germany 3, 4. Netherlands 0.

Champions’ Cup

Belgrade, 1970/71

Partizan was the host of the final group of the 1970/71 European Cup for national champions (Champions’ cup) in Belgrade. Two Yugoslavian teams took part in the tournament. Partizan entered the Champions’ Cup as the current national champion, while Mladost Zagreb was the defending European champion from the previous season. Besides the Yugoslavs, Dynamo Moscow and SSK Stockholm secured themselves spots in the final group.

At the end of the tournament, Partizan and Mladost each collected 5 points (two wins and a draw). The Yugoslav derby was ended with no winner (4:4), and Partizan clinched the title as it had superior goal difference.

Final group: 1. Partizan 5 (15:9), 2. Mladost 5 (13:11), 3. Dynamo Moscow 2, 4. SSK Stockholm.

Tiny differences in Utrecht and Dubrovnik

The European Championships held in Utrecht in 1966 and the final tournament of the 1980/81 Champions Cup don’t really belong to our story, because there were no unbeaten teams that returned home with no gold medal. But, the two competitions should be mentioned. Tiny differences were decisive for the final standing at these exciting tournaments.

Utrecht, 1966

Before the last day of the 1966 European Championships in Utrecht, East Germany was atop of the final group with four points (wins over Yugoslavia and Italy). The Germans faced the Soviet Union in the last match. The USSR had two points (draws in the matches against Yugoslavia and Italy). The crucial game saw just one goal – USSR won 1:0. That goal was enough for the Soviets to catch the Germans in points and jump to the first place, thanks to a win in a head-to-head contest and a small advantage in a goal difference (USSR 5:4, Germany 4:3).

Final group: 1. USSR 4 (5:4), 2. East Germany 4 (4:3), 3. Yugoslavia 3, 4. Italy 1.

Dubrovnik, 1980/81

The final tournament of the 1980/81 European Cup was held in Kupari, near Dubrovnik.

In the first round, Spandau 04 Berlin beat host Jug Dubrovnik  6:4, while Vasas Budapest, the defending European champion, and Ethnikos Piraeus shared the points 4:4. On Day 2, Vasas defeated Spandau 8:2, and Jug beat Ethnikos 9:6. Before the 3rd round, Vasas was atop with 3 points. Jug was in the 2nd, and Spandau in the 3rd place. On Day 3, Jug blew away the defending champion Vasas 8:2 and jumped into the 1st place, because Spandau beat Ethnikos just by two goals (7:5)

Final group: 1. Jug 4 (21:14), 2. Spandau 4 (15:17), 3. Vasas 3, 4. Ethnikos 1.

Ivan Curcic
Ivan Curcic

Related posts

Photo: Nikola Krstic/European Aquatics

July 9, 2025

European U16 Champs: Serbia, Italy, Spain and Greece in quarterfinals


Read more

Andrea Mladossich Photo: Pro Recco

July 9, 2025

[CONFIRMED] Andrea Mladossich to Pro Recco


Read more
July 9, 2025

World Championships Singapore 2025: Players share exclusive insights with Total Waterpolo


Read more

SUPPORT US ON PATREON

If you share our passion for water polo worldwide, consider becoming a cherished contributor to our cause, with as little as 5$/month.

SUPPORT US


Custom Team Gear

LEARN MORE

Shop Now

Looking for something?

✕
  • European U16 Champs: Serbia, Italy, Spain and Greece in quarterfinals
    July 9, 2025
  • 0
    [CONFIRMED] Andrea Mladossich to Pro Recco
    July 9, 2025
  • World Championships Singapore 2025: Players share exclusive insights with Total Waterpolo
    July 9, 2025
  • 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.
✕
CroMasters '24
Support Us
  • News
  • SINGAPORE 2025
    • Men’s tournament
    • Women’s tournament
  • Results
    • Champions League
      • Season 24/25
      • Season 23/24
      • Season 22/23
    • International
      • World Cup 2025 Men
      • European Championships
        • Eindhoven 2024 – Women
        • Croatia 2024 – Men
        • Split 2022
          • Women
          • Men
        • Budapest 2020
        • Barcelona 2018
      • World Championships
        • Doha 2024
          • Women
          • Men
        • Fukuoka 2023
          • Women
          • Men
        • Budapest 2022
          • Women
          • Men
      • Olympics
        • Tokyo 2020
          • Women
          • Men
        • Paris 2024
          • Women
          • Men
      • NCAA
        • NCAA Men’s Finals 2024
        • NCAA Men’s Finals 2023
      • Pacific Cup 2024
    • National
      • Montenegro
        • Montenegrin League 2024/25
        • Montenegrin Cup 2024/25
      • Austria
        • Austrian League 2025 – Men
        • Austrian League 2024 – Women
        • Austrian League 2024 – Men
      • Nordic League
        • Nordic League Men 2024/25
        • Nordic League Women 2024/25
        • Nordic League U16 2024/25
        • Nordic Trophy Men 2024/25
        • Nordic League 2023/24
        • Nordic Trophy 2023/24
      • Hong Kong
        • Hong Kong Women’s League 24/25
        • Hong Kong Men’s League 24/25
      • AWL
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2024/25
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2023/24
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2022/23
      • Slovenia
      • Lithuania
      • Latvia
      • Hungarian League 2023 – Men
      • French League 2023 – Men
      • Spanish League 2023 – Men
      • Italian League 2023 – Men
    • Masters
      • Masters Cup 2025
      • VAL League 2024/25
      • Sabac Masters 2024
      • Masters Cup 2024
      • Budva Masters 2024
    • Junior
      • DSV 98 Cup 2025
      • Summer Cup 2025
      • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U12
      • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U10
      • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus 2025
      • Next Generation 2024 – Men
      • Next Generation 2024 -Women
      • HaBaWaBa Easter 2024 (U10)
      • HaBaWaBa Easter 2024 (U12)
      • HabaWaba Spain Plus 2024
      • Plejade
      • Dobri Dupin
  • Transfers
  • Shop
  • Total Player
    • Total Player 2024
    • Total Player 2023
    • Total Player 2022
    • Total Player 2021
    • Total Player 2020
    • Total Player 2019
    • Total Player 2018
    • Total Player 2017

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalized content. By clicking "Accept All Cookies" or continuing to browse this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT