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

    National

    • Montenegro
      • Montenegrin League 2024/25
      • Montenegrin Cup 24/25
      • Montenegrin League 23/24
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic League Men 24/25
      • 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

    • 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

    • VAL League 2024/25
    • Nordic League U16 2024/25
    • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U10
    • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U12

    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
      • VAL League 2024/25
      • Sabac Masters 2024
      • Masters Cup 2024
      • Budva Masters 2024
    • Junior
      • 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
CHL 24/25
Support Us

Women’s World League: Spain beat Greece and the Netherlands boss France

April 22, 2022

Photo: RFEN

The opening day of the FINA World League European Final’s saw two teams progress to the Semi-Finals to meet Italy and Hungary – who automatically progressed to the Semi’s through topping their group-stage groups.

In the days more competitive match, Spain had to work hard, but were good enough to bypass Greece by 13 -9, with Elena Ruiz making a huge mark in the game with 5 goals. In the earlier match-up, the Netherlands outplayed France by 18-6 with hat-tricks from Bente Rogge, Brigitte Sleeking and Lola Moolhuijzen.

Tomorrow in the two semi-finals, Hungary await Spain, and the Netherlands will play Italy.

Netherlands 18-6 France (4-1, 6-2, 5-2, 3-1)

Netherlands: J. Oosting,, I. Wolves 2, B. Sleeking 3, F. Bosveld 2, M. Schaap 1, S. Van de Kraats, B. Rogge 3, V. Sevenich, M. Van der Weijden 2, I. Koolhaas 3, L. Moolhuijzen 3, N. Ten Broek, S. Buis

France: C. Vidal, L. Fanara, G. Fitaire, L. Andres 1, L. Guillet 2, V. Kretzmann 1, J. Dhalluin 1, A. Battu, E. Vernoux 1, V. Heurataux, Y. Deschampt, A. Daule, P. Martineaud-Peret

The Netherlands really bossed their opening game of the World League today with a dominant 18-6 win over France. The Oranges were expected to win, and they did so, resting crucial players such as Laura Aarts, Sabrina Van der Sloot and both Vivian Sevenich and Simone Van der Sloot – who were on the bench for the whole game.

The Dutch will now play Italy tomorrow in the Semi-Finals.

Bente Rogge and Lola Moolhuijzen were particularly influential in the game for the Dutch, something that Eva Doudesis will be very happy with. Brigitte Sleeking was the most established Dutch player in the side, and scored three excellent goals.

France were outplayed for the majority of the game. The game at times looked even, and the French could perhaps have scored more, but the Dutch were better in practically every department.

The game itself was postponed by an hour, but when the match did finally start, the Dutch started on the front foot, dominating the play in the first.

The Dutch were the better side throughout, dominating the chances in the game and showing their quality with some fine finishing. France barely created any spells of note, although the goals they did score were good.

The Oranges opened the scoring when the ball finally found its way to the left, and Fleur Bosveld’s cross-cage shot gave Chloe Vidal no chance.

Photo: FINA

It was then 2-0 to the the Netherlands when Olympiacos’s Brigitte Sleeking was given far too much time to measure an attempt – with her shot from the top of the arc bouncing into the bottom left-corner of the goal.

France were not creating anything in the set attack, finding it hard to penetrate the drop that the Dutch were setting off the top of the arc. France’s best chance in the quarter came when Bente Rogge was excluded in the centre, but Julliete Dhaulluin’s shot could only rattle off the Dutch cross-bar.

Photo:RFEN

With two minutes left in the first period, Lola Moolhuijzen made it 3-0 when 2016 Olympian Viviane Kretzmann was excluded on the counter-defense, and Moolhuijzen of Ede Polar Bears put her flexible wrists to good use – taking an early shot to beat Vidal.

France did eventually make the breakthrough with a quite excellent set-play. The timeout was called from Ilse Koolhaas’s exclusion, and Louise Guillet picked out a beautiful pass to the back post that Vivian Kretzmann could hardly miss.

But all their hard work was undone right on the buzzer as Bente Rogge’s shot dipped unexpectedly to hit the frame of the goal before going in to give the Dutch a well deserved 4-1 lead at the turn-around.

The Dutch continued where they left off in the second, as Bente Rogge netted a second goal in the match with a driven shot down to the left. France responded immediately, however, as Lara Andres was on target from 2m after turning her defender skilfully.

But France were sloppy in defense moments later, and gave away another opportunity. And with the quality on the top that the Dutch have, ZV De Zaan’s Bente Rogge scored practically the same goal again as she had moments before – securing a first half hat-trick.

Rogge was really in the mood, and could have had another goal moments later from the right-hand side, but her powerful shot could only find the frame of the goal.

After a lot of defending in their own half after successive waves of Dutch attacks, France then found themselves in the Dutch attacking third, and Julliete Dhalluin scored quite fantastically from distance. From nothing, the French were now at 6-3 – with Dhalluin’s shot ricocheting off the post.

However, the Oranges added further to their lead on the next attacks with an attacking onslaught: Firstly,  Lola Moolhuijzen had time and space to measure a shot from a close-angle on the left – with her shot evading the outstretched arms of Chloe Vidal in the French goal, before Brigitte Sleeking put away a tidy man-up goal on the post position to make it 8-3.

Then, Lola Moolhuijzen bagged her hat-trick with a really delightful goal on the right; she took the pass cross-faced from Rogge, and rifled her shot back towards the left-hand side, with the ball clipping the post before finding the net.

Before the half was done, CE Mediterrani’s Marit Van der Weijden took the Dutch to double-figures with a unconvincing effort at the back post that barely crossed the line. VAR was consulted to ensure it had crossed the line, and it had, giving Eva Doudesis’s side a big lead at half-time.

Within the first attack of the 3rd quarter, the Dutch had already scored. Audrey Daule gave away the penalty, and Bente Rogge stepped up from 5m to score her third of the match.

With the sizeable lead the Dutch had amassed, they began to go for the jugular, pressing all over the pitch and suffocating France when they had the ball.

In contrast, France were not pressing well enough at all, and when Fleur Bosveld easily snuck a tidy ball into the pit, Ilse Koolhaas scored a classy second in the game. Bosveld then turned from provider to goal scorer a minute later to put the Dutch 10 goals ahead at 13-3.

With all the Ducth goals flying in, it only seemed a matter of time before Iris Wolves found the net. The Dutch worked the ball cleverly out to the wing, and Wolves bounced the ball into the near side of the French goal.

At 14-3, France needed something to hang on to in the match. And Louise Guillet provided Les Bleus with a moment to be proud of when her shot from the narrow-left struck the underside of the bar before sneaking past Janieke Oosting for 14-4.  With 12 second left on the buzzer, the French scored again, and it was Olympic Nice’s Ema Vernoux who carefully floated a lob to the back post for her first in the match.

But for the second time in the game, the Dutch scored on the buzzer, and it was a vintage Iris Wolves goal from center to put the score at 15-5.

Photo: FINA

The last period of the game was noticeably scrappy, from both sides, but the Dutch really made France pay for simply being second best in the majority of battles.

Yaelle Deschampt eventually lost focus, an gave CN Terrassa’s Nina Ten Broek a goal to celebrate in the match. However, the referees adjudged that the penalty she scored had to be retaken, and Ten Broek, ironically, missed at the second time of asking.

However, the Dutch did eventually have their 16th score in the match via Marit Van der Weijden with a well taken shot in transition from a central position.

Bente Rogge, who had a great game, did make a mistake in the last – gifting Louise Guillet a penalty that she scored calmly.

The Dutch then were awarded another penalty, but Maxine Schapp, like Ten Broek, also fired her shot against the post. But Schapp made up for it not long after streaming through on the right, and slotting her first goal of the game past Chloe Vidal for 17-6.

With ninety seconds to play, Brigitte Sleeking secured her hat-trick, with an excellent bouncing finish on position 4.

 

Spain 13-9 Greece (1-0, 2-2, 5-4, 5-3)

Spain: L. Ester, N. Nogue, A. Espar, B. Ortiz 2, A. Munoz, I. Gonzalez 1, E. Ruiz 5, P. Pena, J. Forca 4, P. Camus 1, P. Leiton, M. Terre, M. Palacio

Greece: I. Stamatopoulou, I. Chydirioti, E. Plevritou 1, N. Eleftheriadou 4, M. Plevritou, E. Xenaki 1, E. Ninou 1, K. Ioannou, V. Plevritou 1, C. Siouti, M. Myriokefalitaki 1, K. Evangelia

Spain will be relieved that they were relatively comfortable 13-9 winners in the end against Greece. Elena Ruiz scored a fantastic 5 goals in the game, while her potential team-mate next season at Sabadell, Judith Forca, scored 4.

Greece did show some bright moments in the game, but they never looked massively assured against a really strong attacking Spanish side. Lets not forget that Spain are the reigning Olympic Silver Medallists, and so Alexia Kammenou will be moderately satisfied with how close the match was on the scoreboard.

Nikoleta Eleftheriadou was the biggest threat for the Hellenic side, with four goals, but at moments in the game the Greeks couldn’t match the intensity that Spain provided in defence.

Miki Oca will be happy that his side are now through to the Semi-Finals, where they will face Hungary – who will have no doubt been watching the contest today.

While there was a big build up to this match, its fair to say it took some time to warm-up. Both sides obviously created chances, but there was no goal-mouth action of any note in the first 5 minutes.

The best chances probably fell the way of the Greeks towards the end of the period; Nikoleta Eleftheriadou firstly had a bounce shot cleared off the line by Laura Ester, before Eleni Xenaki should have scored from close range but instead hit the bar.

Photo: FINA

We did eventually see a goal scored with half a minute left in the quarter. Eirini Ninou was excluded, and Pili Pena picked out a accurate cross-cage pass to Bea Ortiz, who finished well from a tight angle.

Both teams upped their game in the early exchanges in the second period, but it was the hosts, Spain, who grabbed the next goal. Irene Gonzalez did some good work on the top to draw the defence, before offloading the ball to Elena Ruiz, who dispatched like a seasoned professional.

Greece did reply immediately for their first goal of the game as Eirini Ninou’s early shot caught Laura Ester off guard, however it was 3-1 to Spain within moments, as Judith Forca had time on the left, and opted for a clever lob to Ioanna Stamatopoulou’s back post.

Greece were then right back in the game when some clever play in the pit by Maria Myriokefalitaki saw Bea Ortiz excluded. Myriokefalitaki then converted the man-up on the post from a beautifully weighted pop pass from her Olympiacos teammate, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou.

Greece clearly were carrying threat that concerned Spain with dominance at Centre, while Spain were creating decent chances for their incredibly strong perimeter players, but they were misfiring. Both teams had chances towards the end of the half, but the score remained at 3-2 to Spain.

Into the third period, there were nine goals for spectators to feast on with Irene Gonzalez scoring the first, as she carried her excellent form from the end of the season into this match. She didn’t have much on in terms of passing options, and opted for the lob that paid off to give her side a 4-2 lead.

However, no sooner had the Spaniards got their fourth, Greece struck back with a fabulous pit goal. Ioanna Chydirioti fed the pit well, and Eleni Xenaki’s quick hands and powerful shot was too much for Laura Ester to keep out.

Then Alexia Kammenou’s Greek side were honours even, and the goal had been coming. Pili Pena was too heavy on Eleni Xenaki, and a quick pass from Xenaki found Nikoleta Eleftheriadou at the near post, who tucked the ball easily past Ester from close range.

Elena Ruiz then proved why she is amongst the best young players in the world. She intercepted the ball with great athleticism in her own 5m, sprinted the length of the pitch and then drew a clever penalty off a rash challenge from Nikoleta Eleftheriadou. Bea Ortiz stepped up, and put the ball into the right-hand side of the goal to give her side the lead once more.

Photo: FINA

Then, another big bit of quality helped Spain to score again in the third period. Judith Forca was sat on 7m, unopposed, and used all the momentum from Annie Espar’s fizzed pass to launch a shot out of reach of the helpless Stamatopoulou.

Having worked hard to gain a parity, Greece once more found themselves behind by two. And when Paula Camus was excluded at centre, Alexia Kammenou called the timeout, and despite a rather limp looking extra-player set-play, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou absolutely smashed the ball home into the bottom left corner.

However, as quickly as the Greeks pulled a goal back, Spain had their two-goal cushion again, but thanks to some goalkeeping that Ioanna Stamatopoulou will want to forget. Elena Ruiz’s shot off the top looked simply enough to deal with, but Stamatopoulou could only palm it into the corner of her own goal.

Straight after though, Greece were very fortunate, and when Nikoleta Eleftheriadou shot hit the arm of Elena Ruiz, the ball squirmed awkwardly before spinning into the Spanish goal.

Again, however, Spain restored their two-goal lead at 8-6, as Judith Forca continued to cause chaos on the right-hand side – Forca Ariza bounced a low but powerful shot into the wave before it jerked up and rippled into the roof of the Greek net.

Greece’s leaky-looking defence continued to cause them problems into the last quarter, and Elena Ruiz bagged her hat-trick with an absolute cracker into the top-left corner. If her second goal was a bit lucky, her third was anything but.

However, Elena Ruiz neglected her defensive duties and found herself excluded, giving Vasiliki Plevritou her first sight of goal in the game, smashing home from the left.

But to make up for it, 17 year old Elena Ruiz then netted a fourth goal in the game. Ruiz found herself one again in a central position, where she is so dangerous. Bea Ortiz drew the defender on the left of the drop, giving Ruiz a clear but still challenging route at goal, and CN Rubi’s young superstar made it a quad for her in the match.

Greece were chasing the game, and needed a way back into the match on the scoreboard, but missed shots from Vasiliki Plevritou and Eleni Xenaki were half-chances at best.

Photo: FINA

Greece did eventually get the score they wanted via Eleftheria Plevritou, who did well to convert on the right, but only after Elena Ruiz scored her fifth of the match from the left hand-side to make it 11-8.

Soon, it really started to look like Spain could score with every attack. They were moving the ball so freely and finding gaps in the defence to pick their moment to shoot. Judith Forca did exactly that from a Nikoleta Eleftheriadou exclusion, for her fourth in the game.

Maria Myriokefalitaki was working hard in the pit, and an technically outstanding turn past Annie Espar gave Nikoleta Eleftheriadou a chance to bring her side within three scores, which she did (12-9).

With a minute and a half to go, Paula Camus of Terrassa got a goal for the senior team, to secure a well-earned 13-9 victory.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures

11:15 – Semi-Final – Hungary vs  Spain

13:00 – Semi-Final – Italy vs the Netherlands

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

All articles about the World League

TW Press
TW Press

Related posts

Vasilije Radovic (Jadran) Photo: PVK Jadran m:tel

May 13, 2025

Jadran HN emerges victorious from new shootout drama


Read more

Uros Vucurovic Photo: PVK Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi

May 6, 2025

[CONFIRMED] Uros Vucurovic to Telimar


Read more

Photo: Circolo Canottieri Ortigia/Facebook

April 24, 2025

[CONFIRMED] Stefano Tempesti to retirement


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?

✕
  • Novi Beograd returns atop Group A, Marseille to face Ferencvaros in semis
    May 14, 2025
  • Jadran HN emerges victorious from new shootout drama
    May 13, 2025
  • Countdown to CHL Final Four: Semi-final pairings to be determined tomorrow
    May 13, 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
  • 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
      • VAL League 2024/25
      • Sabac Masters 2024
      • Masters Cup 2024
      • Budva Masters 2024
    • Junior
      • 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