Croatia men's national water polo team

The Croatia men's national water polo team represents Croatia in international water polo competitions and is controlled by the Croatian Water Polo Federation. They have won gold medals in the Olympics, World and European Championships, FINA World League and Mediterranean Games, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world. Overall Croatia won 33 medals at competitions.

It was the first Croatian national team to win a gold medal at the Olympics or World Games, the World and European Championships.

Croatia played their 800th game since gaining independence on 20 August 2022 and they won their 517th victory.

History After the independence of Croatia the national water polo team competed at its first tournament and also its first finals at 1993 Mediterranean Games, followed by the 1993 European Championships where Croatia won 5th place.

Croatia has since become Olympic champion (2012), triple World champion (2007, 2017, 2024) and European champion (2010). Croatia has also won eight other medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships and was fourth on six occasions. The team holds a record streak of winning 7 medals in a row at World Championships and has reached semi-finals in over 60% of appearances at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships altogether since 2017. Since the formation of national team Croatia has qualified for every big tournament. It is the first Croatian national team in any Olympic team sport that has won gold medals at all three big competitions. Croatia has also won World League (2012) and Mediterranean Games (2013). The only competition Croatia has yet to win is World Cup where the national team won silver medal in 2010.

The team has been awarded with Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport in 1996. So far two International Swimming Hall of Fame inductees have been members of Croatia national team – Perica Bukić as a player and Ratko Rudić as a coach.

Croatia played their 800 game since gaining independence on 20 August 2022. and they won their 517 victory which makes 64,62% of victories.

Results Medals Updated after 2024 World Championships

Competition TotalOlympic Games 1 3 0 4World Championship 3 1 4 8World Cup 0 1 1 2World League 1 3 3 7European Championship 2 3 1 6Europa Cup 1 1 0 2Summer Universuade 0 1 0 1Mediterranean Games 1 1 1 3 Total 9 14 10 33 Champions   Runners-up   Third place   Fourth place  

Summer Olympics

YearRoundPosition 1992 Could not participate in qualification 1996Final85037158+13 2000Quarterfinal7th85126856+12 2004Preliminary Round10th62044742+5 2008Quarterfinal6th74037149+22 2012Final88007342+31 2016Final85036662+4 2020Quarterfinal5th85039982+17 2024Final84048886+2TotalQualified: 8/86541123641505+126

Record against other teams at the Summer Olympics National team Australia22012925+4 China1100164+12 Egypt1100121+11 Germany1100135+8 Greece33002516+9 Hungary21011617−1 Italy54014535+10 Kazakhstan22004015+25 Montenegro31012620+6 Netherlands1100117+4 Romania1100116+5 Russia100189−1 Serbia32024344−1 Serbia and Montenegro31112021−1 Spain41033034−4 Ukraine1100168+8 United States62044542+3Total17 teams

World Championships

YearRoundPosition 1994Semi-final4th74038757+30 1998Second Round9th84229446+48 2001Second Round8th84047052+18 2003Second Round9th63124939+10 2005Semi-final4th74035944+15 2007Final66006240+22 2009Semi-final65016335+28 2011Semi-final65017242+30 2013Semi-final76018944+45 2015Final 65016845+23 2017Final 66007047+23 2019Semi-final65017737+40 2022 Semi-final4th74128166+15 2023 Classification round9th64029357+36 2024Final 742110763+44 2025 Classification round5th65019366+27TotalQualified: 16/16105746251234776+458

Record against other teams at the World Championships National team Australia65014943+6 Brazil44005222+30 Canada55006826+42 China3300497+42 Germany100137−4 Greece42025149+2 Hungary52135056−6 Italy41123234−2 Japan2200269+17 Kazakhstan1100194+15 Montenegro44004021+19 Netherlands22002313+10 New Zealand3300758+67 Romania33002518+7 Russia63035138+13 Serbia42023741−4 Serbia and Montenegro20111011−1 Slovakia1100123+9 South Africa2200325+27 Spain20021017−7 United States65015643+13Total21 teams

World Cup

YearRoundPosition 1993 Could not qualifyQualification for the tournament was determined by placing in the 1992 Olympics tournament. Since the Croatian team had not participated in the 1992 Olympic water polo tournament due to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, it could not qualify for the 1993 World Cup. 1995Preliminary Round6th52032531−6 1997Preliminary Round8th51043040−10 1999 did not qualify 2002Preliminary Round8th40132632−6 2006Semi-final4th62135456−2 2010Final65017443+31 2014Semi-final64024337+6 2018Quarterfinal5th64118441+43 2023 did not qualify 2025Semi-final4th741210284+18 2026Preliminary Round7th31024344−1TotalQualified: 8/1048 23 4 21 481 480 +73

Record against other teams at the World Cup National team Australia110063+3 China1100144+10 Greece21101211+1 Hungary30031730−13 Iran1100232+21 Italy2002913−4 Kazakhstan1100147+7 Montenegro110065+1 Netherlands110097+2 Romania1100107+3 Russia21011719−2 Serbia31022128−7 Serbia and Montenegro310218180 Spain50143345−12 United States53024340+3Total15 teams

World League Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats. * marks instances of not qualifying for the super final due to "host rule". YearRoundPosition 2002 did not qualify for the Super Final 12 2 0 10 2003 did not compete 2004 2005Group Round4th 14 8 0 6 2006 * did not qualify for the Super Final 11 7 0 4 2007 8 3 0 5 2008 * 6 3 0 3 2009Final 12 9 0 3 2010Semi-final 12 8 0 4 2011Semi-final 11 10 0 1 2012Final 10 10 0 0 2013 * did not qualify for the Super Final 6 4 0 2 2014 4 1 0 3 2015Final 14 12 0 2 2016 did not qualify for the Super Final 6 4 0 2 2017Semi-final 12 10 0 2 2018Quarterfinal5th 10 7 0 3 2019Final 13 9 0 4 2020 did not qualify for the Super Final 5 2 0 3 2022 5 3 0 2TotalParticipated: 18/20Qualified for the Super Final: 9/18 171 112 0 59

European Championships

YearRoundPosition 1993Preliminary round5th75027258+14 1995Semi-final4th72237858+20 1997Semi-final4th85126044+16 1999Final86027159+12 2001Semi-final4th83236357+6 2003Final86026655+11 2006Preliminary round7th84229072+18 2008Semi-final4th84138169+12 2010Final76017144+27 2012Preliminary round9th74038066+14 2014Quarterfinal5th73226454+10 2016Quarterfinal7th74038850+38 2018Semi-final65017641+35 2020Semi-final4th64027553+22 2022Final65107341+42 2024Final64026654+12 2026Main round6th740310670+36TotalQualified: 17/171217411361280945+335

Record against other teams at the European Championships National team Austria1100262+24 France33003821+17 Germany84227666+10 Greece107309173+18 Hungary12219108128−20 Italy95136662+4 Montenegro52034649−3 Netherlands33004013+27 Romania42024335+8 Russia53114436+8 Serbia31113032−2 Serbia and Montenegro41033032−2 Slovakia65016437+27 Slovenia33003716+21 Spain96128073+7 Turkey1100163+13 Ukraine33003419+15Total17 teams

Europa Cup YearRoundPosition 2018 Final 8 7 0 1 2019 Final 7 5 0 2TotalParticipated: 2/2Qualified for the Super Final: 2/2 15 12 0 3

Mediterranean Games YearRoundPosition 1993Final 1997Final 2001Preliminary Round5th 2005Semi-final4th5 2 0 3 2009Semi-final4th5 3 0 2 2013Final4 4 0 0 2018 did not participate 2022TotalParticipated: 6/8 14 9 0 5

Team Current squad Roster for the 2026 Men's European Water Polo Championship.

Head coach: Ivica Tucak

NameDate of birthPos.ClubMarko Bijač (C) VK Jadran SplitRino Burić Pro ReccoLoren Fatović VK Jadran SplitLuka Lončar HAVK MladostFranko Lazić HAVK MladostLuka Bukić HAVK MladostAnte Vukičević HAVK MladostMarko Žuvela Jug AO DubrovnikMatias Biljaka HAVK MladostJosip Vrlić HAVK MladostZvonimir Butić VK Jadran SplitKonstantin Kharkov HAVK MladostIvan Marcelić HAVK MladostFilip Kržič Jug AO Dubrovnik

Player statistics + Most appearances Player Matches Activeon Nat'l Team? 417 285 176 167 148 129 128 120 117 108 , HG 97 90 , SC 89 83 86 80 79 68 , HG 58 57 52 52 37 35 33 30 22 20 + Top scorers Name Goals Average 369 3.42 , 197 , 158 135 0.77 113 0.27 100 , 86 1.02

Head coaches Duško Antunović (1991–1993) Bruno Silić (1993–1998) Neven Kovačević (1998–2001) Veselin Đuho (2002–2003) Zoran Roje (2003–2005) Ratko Rudić (2005–2012) Ivica Tucak (2012–)

Notable players Milivoj BebićFINA Water Polo Player of the Year in 1982, 1984 and 1985. Scored 28 goals in one game which is a world record for water polo game (final score: Yugoslavia 62–0 Guatemala). First water polo player in history to sign a 6 digit contract. Zdravko Ježić Zdravko Kovačić Renco Posinković Karlo Stipanić

Naturalized players Andrey Belofastov (Ukraine), Xavier García (Spain) Konstantin Kharkov (Russia),

Statistics Record against other teams As of 10 August 2024 after game against Hungary in Olympic Games 2024

NO FRIENDLY fixtures.

++Key Positive total balance (more wins) Negative total balance (more losses) Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats. National team Total Olympic Games World Championship World Cup World League European Championship Europa Cup Mediterranean Games Qualifications Argentina | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |1 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 Australia | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |23 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |18 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |5 |3 ||2 ||0 ||2 |9 ||8 ||0 ||1 |2 ||1 ||0 ||1 |8 ||7 ||0 ||1 |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 Austria | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 Belarus | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 Brazil | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |8 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |4 ||4 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |3 ||2 ||0 ||1 |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 Canada | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |8 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |8 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |6 ||6 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 China | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |3 ||3 ||0 ||0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |2 ||2 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 Egypt | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |— ||— ||— ||— |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 France | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |13 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 |1 ||0 ||0 ||1 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |4 ||4 ||0 ||0 |5 ||5 ||0 ||0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 Georgia | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |3 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |3 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 Germany | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |27 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |4 |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 |3 ||2 ||0 ||1 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |12 ||11 ||0 ||1 |9 ||5 ||2 ||2 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |2 ||2 ||0 ||0 Great Britain | bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 || bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |0 ||0 ||0 ||0 |— ||— ||— ||— |1 ||1 ||0 ||0 Greece