The European qualifications for the Men’s World League Super Final started today.
The big match of the day was played in Athens, where Greece hosted Italy (Group A). The reigning world champions defeated the Greeks by three goals (9:6). In other matches, favourites recorded huge wins.
Results, Day 1
Group A: Greece – Italy 6:9 (played in Athens)
Group B: Hungary – Russia 14:6 (played in Budapest)
Group C: Netherlands – Serbia 7:12 (played in The Hague)
Group D: Montenegro – Ukraine 23:3 (played in Niksic)
World League 2020, European Qualifications, Day 1
Group A
Greece-Italy 6:9 (1:1, 1:4, 2:1, 2:3)
Greece: Argyropoulos 3, Genidounias 2, Fountoulis 1.
Italy: S. Luongo 3, Aicardi 2, Renzuto 2, F. Di Fulvio 1, Bodegas 1.
The Greeks didn’t manage to take revenge for a 6:7 loss to Italy in the quarterfinals of the World Championships.
Today’s match in Athens was an even contest for a quarter and a half. In the 12th minute, the score was 2:2. In the last three minutes of the second period, Italy netted three goals and gained a 5:2 lead before the second half. Greek superstar Genidnounias opened the third quarter with two goals in a span of 50 seconds to reduce the gap (4:5). A minute and a half before the last break, Stefano Luongo doubled an advantage by converting a penalty shot for 6:4. By the middle of the last period, Aicardi and then Renzuto found the net to give Italy a 4-goal advantage (8:4). Argyropoulos converted a penalty for 5:8 with 03:43 minutes to go. But, Bodegas scored from an extra player attack for 9:5 in the 31st minute and Italy secured a win. Argyropopulos scored a consolation goal for Greece in the last minute.
Schedule until the end of the group phase
Italy – Georgia (17 December)
Georgia – Greece (11 February)
Group B
Hungary – Russia 14:6 (4:3, 6:0, 2:2, 2:1)
Hungary: Erdelyi 3, Vamos 2, Hosnyanszky 2, Kovacs 2, Jansik 2, A. Nagy 2, Manhercz 1.
Russia: Kharkov 3, Bychkov 1, Kholod 1, Lisunov 1.
Russia opened the match pretty well. The visitors had a 2:1 lead after less than two minutes of play. But, Hungary, which played without Denes Varga, answered with three goals in a row for a 4:2 lead. Russia managed to score one goal by the end of this period. After the first break, Hungary blew away the rival. The hosts staged an 8:0 rush to build a 12:3 advantage (22nd minute). After that, the hosts slowed down, but the Russians couldn’t dream about a comeback. Hungary won 14:6.
Schedule until the end of the group phase
Russia – France (17 December)
France – Hungary (11 February)
Group C
Netherlands – Serbia 7:12 (2:3, 1:7, 3:1, 1:1)
Netherlands: Nispeling 2, Van den Burg 1, Gbadamassi 1, Van Ijperen 1, Gottemaker 1, Wolswinkel 1.
Serbia: S. Mitrovic 3, Filipovic 2, D. Pijetlovic 2, Mandic 1, Dedovic 1, Cuk 1, Vico 1, Prlainovic 1.
Serbia, the reigning champion and 10-times World League winner, opened its new campaign with a solid win. Superstars Filip Filipovic, Andrija Prlainovic, Dusko Pijetlovic, Milan Aleksic, Stefan Mitrovic, Gojko Pijetlovic, who missed the World Championships, returned in the team.
The Dutch grabbed an opening lead. Gbadamassi (who plays for the most successful Serbian water polo club Partizan) scored for 1:0 in the 2nd minute. Shortly after, Serbia started to dominate. The visitors turned around the deficit to a 2:1 lead. The Dutch equalized 21 seconds from the end of the first period (2:2), but than Serbia scored six unanswered goals for 8:2. At halftime, the Serbs led 10:3. They let the Netherlands cut the deficit in the second half.
Stefan Zivojinovic, the best goalkeeper of the 2014 FINA World Cup, returned to the national team of Serbia after 5 years. Zivojinovic, who signed for Olympiacos this summer, was in front of Serbia’s goal in the first half. Then he was replaced by an experienced Gojko Pijetlovic. Serbia’s first goalie Branislav Mitrovic wasn’t in the squad this time.
Schedule until the end of the group phase
Serbia – Croatia (17 December)
Croatia – Netherlands (11 February)
Group D
Montenegro – Ukraine 23:3 (8:1, 6:1, 5:1, 4:0)
Montenegro:Ukropina 4, Moskov 4, Dj. Radovic 3, Petkovic 3, Banicevic 3, Matkovic 2, Vidovic 2, Popadic 1, Pjesivac 1.
Ukraine: Gryshchuk 1, Abramov 1, Aleiksieiev 1.
Montenegro head coach Vladimir Gojkovic gave chance to younger players to show what they are able for. Some of the main players, including Aleksandar Ivovic, missed the match.
The best scorers were Aleksa Ukropina (21-years-old) and Nikola Moskov (22 years) with 4 goals each.
Schedule until the end of the group phase
Ukraine – Spain (17 December)
Spain – Montenegro (11 February)
