Croatia U20 Defeats Itself: Bajić Admits
Young water polo players opened the European Championship in Varna with a 13:16 loss to Italy, despite leading and creating numerous chances. The coach is critical, Hungary is the next test.
Young water polo players opened the European Championship in Varna with a 13:16 loss to Italy, despite leading and creating numerous chances. The coach is critical, Hungary is the next test.
Croatia's U20 water polo team opened their European Championship campaign in Varna, Bulgaria, with a defeat. In the first-round match at the open-air pool "Julian Rusev," Zoran Bajić's side lost to Italy 13:16 (5:5, 3:3, 2:3, 3:5).
The match began with Italy taking the initiative and leading 3:1, but Croatia quickly fought back. Goals from Tončinić and captain Sušić leveled the score at 3:3. Croatia's first lead came from a Sušić counterattack and his assist to Tončinić (5:4), but the quarter ended without an advantage (5:5).
In the second period, Fajković scored on a player advantage to give Croatia their first two-goal lead (8:6). After conceding to make it 8:7, goalkeeper Batoš (4 saves) was replaced by Špilar, who made three saves in Italy's next three attacks. Despite this, Croatia failed to pull away, and the impression was that the team was the better opponent but made too many mistakes, especially in attacking transitions.
A key issue was situations where Croatian players swam past their opponents, committed a foul, and the trailing Italian scored. This scenario occurred three times, allowing Italy to stay in the game and punish every lapse in concentration.
Croatia's last lead of the match came early in the third quarter when Dragaš scored to make it 9:8. From that point, further mistakes followed. Italy went on a scoring run to turn the game around and led 11:10 heading into the final quarter.
Jerković equalized with a solo effort to make it 11:11, but Italy again went two ahead (11:13). Sušić converted a penalty to reduce the deficit with 3 minutes and 21 seconds remaining, and Jerković then scored to make it 13:14. However, at the crucial moment, in the same defensive possession, Burburan and Čurković were both excluded (each with three personal fouls), and Italy scored on the power play to extend their lead to 13:15. With 43 seconds left, the question of the winner was settled.
In a desperate attempt, Croatia played an attack without a goalkeeper, using seven outfield players. They failed to score and conceded the final goal for 13:16, with Tončinić in goal. According to the source, Croatia "gifted" too much to the Italians.
Croatia finished the match with only 5 goals from 13 power-play opportunities, while Italy had the same conversion rate (5/11). Goalkeeper Špilar made 9 saves, while captain Sušić stood out in attack with 4 goals, and Jerković, Tončinić, and Dragaš each scored twice. For Italy, De Simone scored 5 goals, with Maffei and Valle adding three each.
Coach Zoran Bajić did not hide his disappointment after the match. "We weren't right," he briefly commented to Sportske novosti, suggesting his team did not show their true game. Croatia literally defeated themselves, handing victory to an opponent who coldly punished every mistake.
In the second round of the competition, Croatia faces Hungary on Wednesday, August 12. The match starts at 8:15 PM and will be a chance for redemption after a failed start.
