Belgrade 2026: Day 1 Match Previews - Men’s European Water Polo Championships (2026)

Belgrade 2026: Day 1 Match Previews

Men's European Water Polo Championships, Belgrade 2026

Match Previews, Day 1 - Saturday, January 10 (local times shown)

Group A:

1. 15:15 Hungary vs. France:

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   • Hungary, the all-time medal leader with 13 titles and 26 medals, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of their first European title in 1926. They've had a strong modern-era run, missing the semis only once in 16 editions and claiming a medal 13 times.
   • France achieved their best result, a silver medal, on their first appearance in 1927. They've typically finished in the top 8 until 1958 but had to wait until 2022 for another top-6 finish in Split. Two years ago, they dropped to 9th place.
   • The teams met twice during the recent prep season, with Hungary winning both games.
   • Their last European encounter was in 2014, with Hungary winning 12-7 in the group stage in Budapest.
   • In major tournaments, Hungary has dominated recent clashes, winning the opening round at the Paris Olympics and the World Cup Division I tournament last year. However, France caused an upset at the World Championships in Doha 2024, beating Hungary in the quarter-finals.
   • Fun fact: The head coaches, Zsolt Varga of Hungary and Vjekoslav Kobescak of France, have a long-standing friendship since playing together in Mladost Zagreb in the late 1990s.

2. 18:00 Malta vs. Montenegro:

   • Malta is making its sixth appearance at the European Championships, typically finishing in 15th or 16th place, with a best finish of 14th in 2022.
   • Montenegro debuted as an independent nation in 2008 and won the European title in Malaga. They've reached the semis four times and won silver medals in 2012 and 2016. In the last four editions, they've finished 6th in 2024.
   • Malta and Montenegro met once at the Europeans in 2018, with Montenegro winning 17-5.
   • Fun fact: Montenegro's head coach, Dejan Savic, led Serbia to European triumph in 2016 in the Belgrade Arena.

Group C:

1. 12:45 Israel vs. Spain:

   • Israel is making its fourth appearance at the European Championships, with a best finish of 12th in Split.
   • Spain, after a long wait, finally lifted the European Championship trophy in 2024, their first gold medal. They've participated since the second edition in 1927, with three silver and four bronze medals.
   • Spain has made the podium in each major since 2018, except for the Olympics, where they've been empty-handed in the last seven editions.
   • Fun fact: Spain has only one regular-time loss in the last four European Championships, to Hungary in the semi-finals in Split 2022. They've avenged this loss in the final.

2. 20:30 Netherlands vs. Serbia:

   • The Netherlands, after winning a bronze medal in 1938, barely missed the top 8 until 1993. Their best effort was a title-winning run in 1950, and they've finished outside the top 8 only once, in 1991.
   • Serbia, the host nation, has five titles since gaining independence and eight European golds since 2001. They had an outstanding run with nine consecutive podium finishes from 2001 to 2018, including four straight titles between 2012 and 2018.
   • However, Serbia failed to make the semis in the last three editions, finishing 5th, 9th, and 7th. They also finished without medals in the last five World Championships and World Cups but won gold in the Olympics in 2021 and 2024.
   • The teams have met in three straight European Championships, with Serbia winning each clash. In 2022, they forced a shootout win.
   • In the build-up to this Championship, the Netherlands caused a huge upset by beating Croatia, while Serbia struggled to win matches. After a series of defeats, Serbia finally beat France.
   • Fun fact: When Serbia won gold in 2006 as hosts, it triggered a massive run by the host nations in the following championships, with the home team either winning or reaching the final in eight of the last 10 editions.