Croatia men's national water polo team

Croatia men's national water polo team
The Croatia men's national water polo team represents Croatia in international water polo competitions and is controlled by the Croatian Water Polo Federation. They have won gold medals in the Olympics, World and European Championships, FINA World League and Mediterranean Games, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world. Overall Croatia won 28 medals at competitions.
It was the first Croatian national team to win a gold medal at the Olympics or World Games, the World and European Championships.
Croatia played their 800th game since gaining independence on 20th August 2022. and they won their 517th victory.
History
After the independence of Croatia the national water polo team competed at its first tournament and also its first finals at 1993 Mediterranean Games, followed by the 1993 European Championships where Croatia won 5th place.
Croatia has since become Olympic champion (2012), double World champion (2007, 2017) and European champion (2010). Croatia has also won eight other medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships and was fourth on six occasions. The team holds a record streak of winning 7 medals in a row at World Championships and has reached semi-finals in over 60% of appearances at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships altogether since 2017. Since the formation of national team Croatia has qualified for every big tournament. It is the first Croatian national team in any Olympic team sport that has won gold medals at all three big competitions. Croatia has also won World League (2012) and Mediterranean Games (2013). The only competition Croatia has yet to win is World Cup where the national team won silver medal in 2010.
The team has been awarded with Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport in 1996. So far two International Swimming Hall of Fame inductees have been members of Croatia national team – Perica Bukić as a player and Ratko Rudić as a coach.
Croatia played their 800 game since gaining independence on 20th August 2022. and they won their 517 victory which makes 64,62% of victories.
Results
Medals
Updated after 2022 Men's European Water Polo Championship
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Summer Olympics
Record against other teams at the Summer Olympics
World Championships
Record against other teams at the World Championships
World Cup
Record against other teams at the World Cup
World League
Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.
* marks instances of not qualifying for the super final due to "host rule".
European Championships
Record against other teams at the European Championships
LEN Europa Cup
Mediterranean Games
Team
Current squad
Roster for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.
Head coach: Ivica Tucak
1 Marko Bijač
2 Rino Burić
3 Marino Čagalj
4 Ivan Krapić
5 Franko Lazić
6 Luka Bukić
7 Ante Vukičević
8 Marko Žuvela
9 Jerko Marinić Kragić
10 Josip Vrlić
11 Andrija Bašić
12 Nikolay Bonev
13 Toni Popadić
Filip Kržić
Zvonimir Butić
Player statistics
Head coaches
Duško Antunović (1991–1993)
Bruno Silić (1993–1998)
Neven Kovačević (1998–2001)
Veselin Đuho (2002–2003)
Zoran Roje (2003–2005)
Ratko Rudić (2005–2012)
Ivica Tucak (2012–)
Notable players
Milivoj Bebić
Zdravko Ježić
Zdravko Kovačić
Renco Posinković
Karlo Stipanić
Naturalized players
Andrey Belofastov (Ukraine), Xavier García (Spain) Faris Okanovic (Sweden) Konstantin Harkov (Russia)
Statistics
Record against other teams
As of 11 September 2022
NO FRIENDLY fixtures.
Biggest wins
double digit goal difference
Biggest losses
Non-senior competitions
World Youth Championship
U-18
World Junior Championship
U-20
European Youth Championship
U-17
* incorporated in the 1st European Games
European Junior Championship
U-19
Awards
Croatian team of the year: 1999, 2017, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017
See also
Croatia men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
Yugoslavia men's national water polo team
List of Olympic champions in men's water polo
List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics
List of world champions in men's water polo
Notes
References
External links
Men's national water polo teams
Men's sport in Croatia