Greece Wins Silver in Water Polo World Cup After Thrilling Final Against Spain

Greece’s men’s national water polo team won the silver medal tonight after a hard-fought final against the champions of Spain in Podgorica, Montenegro for the World Aquatics World Cup.

The match ended with Greece losing by a marginal score of 16-14, an impressive, nonetheless, achievement for Greece’s water polo in one of the world’s most important competitions other than the Olympic Games.

How did Greece do in the water polo final

The final was a nail-biting, tense match, where Greece’s determined squad was hyped to win, playing against their Spanish opponents, who entered the match aiming to defend their 2023 title.

Both teams played a brilliant game, showcasing exceptional skill and tactical abilities.

Ultimately, Greece’s water polo squad fell short in a game that kept fans of both Mediterranean nations on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. For Greece, the result represents their best-ever finish in a World Cup since their silver medal in 1997, adding another hard-fought medal to their growing collection after reaching their fourth major final in the last few years.

Greece won the first quarter with a score of 4-2, however, the Spaniards managed to win both the second and the third quarters, 6-4 and 4-2 respectively.

It all came down to the last quarter, where Greece succumbed to Spain’s determination.

Greece’s path to tonight’s final was very impressive. They showed a good face during the Division 1 tournament in Bucharest back in January, ultimately finishing third after a semi-final loss to Hungary but securing their spot in the final series. Arriving in Montenegro, the team was evidently more prepared. They started their finals campaign with a stunning 20-10 victory over Japan in the quarter-finals.

The semi-final clash against Hungary was particularly crucial, following their initial loss. Greece delivered a stunning performance, defeating the Magyars 18-14 in a display of tactical mastermind. Players like Stylianos Argyropoulos, who was great in the semi-final, and Dimitrios Skoumpakis were the foundations of the much-needed victories throughout the knockout stages, leading Greece’s attack. Goalkeeping and solid defence were also key factors in their successes and path to tonight’s final.

¡CAMPEONES DE LA WORLD CUP DE PODGORICA!

España vence a Grecia en la gran final del torneo y el trofeo viaja en el equipaje español

@RFEN_Oficial pic.twitter.com/wstVv9kF2u

— Comité Olímpico Español (@COE_es) April 13, 2025

How did Greece do in Paris 2024

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Greece’s men’s national water polo team did not win a medal but played brilliant games and impressed the world stage with their determination. Ultimately finishing in 5th place overall, the Greek champions did their best and only fell short of a place on the medals podium. They began with high hopes, achieving victories over strong teams like Italy and the USA.

However, their hopes of an Olympic medal were cut short in a dramatic quarter-final match against Serbia. The Balkan champions (who eventually won the Olympic gold), beat Greece narrowly 11-12 due to a last-second goal. Despite this heartbreak, Greece’s team then defeated Australia and then Spain to secure their final 5th-place ranking in the tournament.