Yesterday, Spain managed to reach its seventh water polo World Cup final by defeating Croatia (10-5) in the pool of Budapest (Hungary) in a match with more facilities and authority than expected given that Croatia had exhibited a great defense throughout the championship and stood out with names like Konstantin Kharkov or Ivan Krapic. Italy awaits in the final, which in the other semi-final defeated Greece (11-10) in a clash marked by many expulsions.
The second semifinal faced the current runner-up in the world, Spain, and the world bronze, Croatia. The reigning world champion awaits in the final. It was an afternoon where the stars were Granados, scorer of four goals, and Unai Aguirre, the goalkeeper who made the Croats desperate with his saves.
The first quarter ended with 3-3. Zuvela responded to Munarriz’s initial goal, who won the initial sprint, and although Bustos put the score 2-1 in the fifth minute, Croatia turned the score around with two goals that caught the Spanish defense asleep, slow at Time to go down to defend. A goal by Blai Mallarach left the first quarter tied at three.
In the second quarter, Spain came out much more in tune, taking advantage of Vukcevic’s expulsion to go ahead 5-3 with two goals from Granados, the Barceloneta player.
Croatia looked for a reaction but David Martín’s men gritted their teeth in defense and the Balkans found it very difficult to find good shooting options. The game was consumed without more goals until the break with that very encouraging 5-3 for the Spanish team.
After the break, the third half began as the second had finished. During the first four minutes there were no goals, with three Croatian shots very well saved by Unai Aguirre, the best of the Spaniards, then with 75% success. Munárriz missed the 6-3 shot at the post but Spain did find him shortly after, the work of Sanahuja.
Then Croatia finally responded with a goal from Bukic, but again increased the difference to three with a long shot, another whiplash from Sanahuja that the Balkan goalkeeper did not see coming. When it was beginning to look ugly for Croatia, they reduced the difference to 7-5 with a goal by Basic in the last seconds from a front position to which Unai could not respond.
The last quarter could not have started better for Spain, who scored 8-5 on their first play after a sprint from Famera and a whiplash from Granados.
The goal did a lot of damage to Croatia, with little time left and too many goals against. His attacks were already closed with hasty shots in bad positions. Spain, more aware of defending well, also had some opportunities in the first few minutes that they did not take advantage of to close the match definitively.
After a timeout requested by David Martín, it finally came to 9-5 for Spain in a great shot at the short post by Blai Mallarach. With Croatia sinking and with three minutes to go, Spain scored 10-5 with a shot from Granados again adjusted to the post.
From then on, Spain exhausted the times of possession to the despair of Croatia, totally sunk in the last three minutes. Spain had played its best game in the World Cup. Italy awaits in the final on Sunday. The same final as three years ago, then decided in favor of the transalpines.
