Romania Finishes 8th at European Water Polo Championship, Losing to Montenegro 15-21

Romania concluded its journey at the European Water Polo Championship, finishing in 8th place after a 15-21 loss to Montenegro. The match took place at Belgrad Arena, marking another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between the two teams.

Match Overview: Romania vs. Montenegro

In the match for the 7th and 8th positions, Montenegro quickly established a lead, going up by three goals early on. However, Romania clawed back, narrowing the gap to just one goal thanks to Marius Țic’s efforts. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 3-4.

As the match progressed, Montenegro regained control, extending their lead to four goals by halftime, with a score of 10-6. Despite scoring efforts from Romanian players Andrei Neamțu, Vlad Georgescu, and Tudor Fulea, Montenegro maintained a significant advantage, reaching a high of 10-17. Romania attempted a late-game comeback, but fatigue took its toll. Montenegro ultimately secured the victory.

Scoring Summary

• Vlad Georgescu – 5 goals
• Andrei Neamțu – 4 goals
• Andrei Prioteasa – 3 goals
• Francesco Iudean, Tudor Fulea, and Alexandru Gheorghe – 1 goal each

Romania’s Performance at the Championship

Despite finishing 8th, Romania fulfilled its primary objective of placing in the top eight. This achievement secures their qualification for the upcoming 2027 World Championship, which will be hosted in Budapest.

Romania’s history against Montenegro has been challenging, as evidenced by 16 consecutive losses since 2009. Montenegro has often been a formidable opponent, demonstrating their strength in this tournament.

Semifinal Matchups

The European Championship in Belgrade will feature the semifinals on January 23. The teams competing are:

• Greece vs. Hungary
• Serbia vs. Italy

The final will be held on January 25 at 21:30.

Romania’s Path in the Championship

Here are Romania’s results throughout the tournament:

The Romanian team, coached by Bogdan Rath, demonstrated resilience throughout the competition, even amid tough losses against strong teams. With a focus on future success, the team aims to build on this experience as they prepare for upcoming tournaments.