After celebrations in Zagreb, the Croatian U20 water polo team heads to Varna in pursuit of another medal. Head coach Zoran Bajić believes in his squad, which he says is an unknown quantity for their rivals.
After the medal for Croatian U20 water polo was celebrated in Zagreb on Sunday evening, the focus immediately shifts to a new challenge. On Monday, August 10, 2026, in Varna, Bulgaria's largest city on the Black Sea coast, the European Championship for U20 players kicks off and runs until August 16.
Croatia's key asset on the bench is head coach Zoran Bajić, a former strategist for Mladost and current coach of Novi Beograd. It was he who ended a painful seven-year medal drought in youth competitions, which lasted from 2018 to 2024. In 2024, in Burgas, Bulgaria, he led the U19 team to the European title, and a year later, with the same generation, he secured a bronze medal at the U20 World Championship in Zagreb.
"In Sydney, we were even further weakened by the absence of Nardo Skejić and Ante Jerković, but we were reinforced with some younger seniors. The play there was more than satisfactory," Bajić recalled of the recent appearance at the World Senior Cup in Australia, where his young players faced the best senior teams in the world.
The head coach particularly highlighted the preparation phase after returning from Australia. "Upon returning from Australia, losing sparring partners because everyone was in their own rhythm, we continued on our own, and I must admit that I am ultimately most satisfied with that part of the preparations, ever since I've been working with all these youth national teams. We had plenty of time to work on ourselves, as they say. We were very systematic in the water training, with an emphasis on certain details, especially in defense. I am truly satisfied," Bajić said for Sportske novosti.
Although Croatia is considered a favorite, Bajić is aware that his team is a big unknown for opponents, and vice versa. "Now we will finally see for the first time where exactly we stand in relation to them. Because we haven't had the chance to meet them so far, not in this age category. We haven't been to some tournaments or sparring sessions. That sparks curiosity in us, and I believe we are also an unknown to our opponents. We'll see very quickly, through the first two or three matches, where we are and what we are," he added.
Croatia is in Group A with Italy, Hungary, and Greece. The first test is already on Monday at 1:30 PM against Italy. The next day, on Tuesday at 8:15 PM, a match against Hungary follows, and the group stage concludes on Wednesday at 5:00 PM against Greece. The top two teams from Groups A and B will secure direct qualification to the quarterfinals, while the third and fourth-placed teams will go to the round of 16.
The coaching staff, alongside head coach Bajić, includes assistant coaches Igor Računica and Marko Jelača, goalkeeper coach and video analyst Marino Marović, physiotherapist Andro Petric, and head of youth national teams at the Croatian Water Polo Federation, Emil Nikolić.
The player roster includes goalkeepers Nikola Batoš (Mladost) and Antoan Špilar (Jug Adriatic osiguranje), centers Viktor Tončinić (Mladost) and Karlo Dragošević (Primorje EB), defenders Mislav Ćurković (Jadran), Amar Fajković (Solaris/Mladost), and Šime Žilić (Zadar 1952), and attackers Maro Šušić (Jug Adriatic osiguranje), Gabrijel Burburan (Primorje EB), Ante Donđivić (Zadar 1952), Nardo Dragaš (Mornar), Nardo Skejić (Jadran), Ante Jerković (Jug Adriatic osiguranje), Filip Rogić (Mladost), and Fran Dobrić (Mladost).
