With another thrilling year for international water polo in sight, world-class players and their national teams are already making waves in the European preliminaries. In round 3 of the home-and-away games held on December 29, 2014, Olympic champions Croatia beat Montenegro 14-8 in Rijeka.
A total 13 teams are taking part in the qualification phase for Europe, divided in the following groups:
Group A: Hungary, Greece, Romania, Slovakia
Group B: Serbia, Russia, Germany, Spain
Group C: Montenegro, Italy, Croatia, Turkey and France
Round 4 on January 20, 2015 will see Greece meeting current World champions Hungary in Athens (GRE); Romania receives Slovakia in Bucharest (ROU); Russia faces five-time World League winner Serbia in Astrakhan City (RUS); Germany plays Spain in Bremen (GER); 2014 World League bronze medallist Montenegro meets Turkey in Budva (MNE) while Italy, 2012 Olympic silver medallists, will pit their strength against the Croatians in Turin (ITA).
Meanwhile, teams from the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania (to be announced soon) are gearing up for the upcoming FINA World League Intercontinental Tournament to be held from March 30 to April 4, 2015 in Corona del Mar (USA).
A total eight teams will earn a ticket for the men’s Super Final taking place in Bergamo, Italy on June 23-28, 2015: four from Europe, including host Italy, and four from the Intercontinental tournament.
In the women’s competition, round 3 of the European preliminaries is scheduled for January 27, 2015 with the following match-ups: Russia receives Italy in Kirishi (RUS); Hungary meets France in Gyor (HUN); Greece faces reigning World champions Spain in Athens (GRE) and Germany visits the Netherlands in Drachten.
Auckland in New Zealand will welcome the teams for the women’s Intercontinental Tournament from April 28 to May 3, 2015 while the Super Final will be staged in China (city to be announced soon) on June 9-14, 2015.
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