The draws for the U20 European Water Polo Championships, men and women, were conducted on Monday. The highlights of the European water polo summer will offer a great view of the continent’s next generation of outstanding players.
Men’s U20 European Championship, Division Elite, Varna (BUL), 10-16 August
Group A: Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Greece
Group B: Montenegro, Spain, Germany, Serbia
Group C: Türkiye, Bulgaria, France, Slovenia
Group D: Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Czechia
Division One, Oeiras (POR), 10-16 August
Group A: Israel, Ukraine, Switzerland, Great Britain, Belgium
Group B: Georgia, Poland, Lithuania, Finland, Portugal, Russia
Though the composition of the batches reflected on the last edition of the U19 championships two years ago (held also in Bulgaria, in Burgas), last season’s U18 event in Oradea may offer a clearer view of what we can expect this August from the young warriors gathering in Varna.
There, Montenegro stormed through the field, posting magnificent performances in succession and they should be considered the favourites once more.
The rest seemed to be on the same level – finalists Serbia, the two sides clashing for the bronze, Italy and Greece, who all won nail-biters en route to the semis, plus Spain and Hungary, who dropped surprisingly to play for the 5th place, and under-performing Croatia will also be a threat once more in Varna.
With the two-division format in place, thrilling clashes are guaranteed right away in the group stage.
The U18 finalists Montenegro and Serbia were drawn in the same group, alongside with Spain, but the quartet of Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Greece will offer nothing but sheer excitement for all three rounds.
The top two from Group A and B will advance to the quarter-finals directly, while the third and fourth placed sides need to play crossovers against the top two from Group C and D respectively and the winners will join the Quarter Final show.
Also, a fierce battle is in sight around the bottom ranks, as well as in Division One, since the last two from the elite shall be dropped to the first division, while the two finalists from the first division will be promoted to the elite tournament’s 2028 edition.
Women’s U20 European Championship, Division Elite, Oeiras (POR), 1-7 August
Group A: Spain, Greece, Italy, Israel
Group B: Hungary, Croatia, Netherlands, France
Group C: Germany, Malta, Russia
Group D: Ukraine, Romania, Portugal
Group E: Great Britain, Czechia, Ireland
Group F: Türkiye, Serbia, Switzerland
Just like in the men’s edition, the two-division format will offer a series of great matches in the group stage and here, last year’s U18 finalists, Spain and Greece were also drawn to the same group.
Italy, fourth in Malta last September, will have a tough challenge. Hungary, bronze medallists in the U18, may have an easier ride facing the Netherlands, Croatia and France.
However, unlike in the men’s competition, where the re-admitted Russian team should start their quest in the Division One tournament and may be eligible for a run in the elite only in the next edition (provided they qualify), in the women’s tournament, the Russians can challenge the top sides right away if they finish top in their group.
Since there are four groups of three in the lower division and the winners will qualify for the crossovers, an on-site draw will be conducted to determine the fixtures between the best ones coming from Groups C-F and the 3rd and 4th ranked sides from Group A and B (and the potential pairings of the quarters).
That will definitely add some extra flavour to what is already guaranteed to be an exciting tournament.
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
