Spain thrashed Italy 10-4, achieving its first World Cup title in Longe Beach (United States) in a final marked by a 5-1 run in the first quarter with Álvaro Granados and Felipe Perrone leading the attack and with Unai Aguirre as a figure under sticks. After beating Germany in the quarterfinals (18-9) and Hungary in the semifinals (10-8), David Martín’s team edged water polo in a final in which they left an Italy that had scored 20 against Romania and 15 with just 4 goals To united states.
Precisely the host team starred in one of the most surreal scenes of recent times. In principle, Hungary had won the so-called consolation final 13-12 and this was already reflected with the Spain-Italy final at stake. However, a claim by the United States demanding the entry of a Hungarian player early, in a penalty, led to the replay of the last 4 minutes.
Two hours after finishing the game, they returned to the pool that had already seen the gold for Spain. The United States scored two goals after the break to claim bronze in a 14-13 final, with a final protest from the Hungarians in their last attack.
The medals were handed out with much delay, with captain Felipe Perrone raising the cup and also the award for best player in the final. Unai Aguirre was chosen as the best goalkeeper and the Italian Edoardo di Somma, the top scorer in a surreal last day.
In the previous 16 editions of the World League, now the first as a World Cup, Spain had won five medals, but none of gold. This medal comes just after one year of gold in the World Championship in Budapest (Hungary) when Spain defeated Italy on penalties. In addition, in 2022, it was bronze in the final phase of the World League in Strasbourg (France) and also came in third position in the European Championship in Split (Croatia) after beating Italy for third and fourth place. In the semifinals they had lost to Hungary.
Now, the coach David Martin and his players seal with the first gold in the World Cup – successor to the World League – a full year, which has the Fukuoka World Championship this July in the second fortnight. Olympic champions in Atlanta’96, three times world champions, now champions of the World League for the first time, only missing, curiously, the title of European champions.
