Jan 11, 2024 at 9:35 PM Update: 9 minutes ago
The Dutch water polo players qualified for the final of the European Championships in Eindhoven on Thursday. The reigning world champion had a very difficult time in the semi-final against Italy, but won: 7-6.
The Dutch team had a lot of trouble scoring in a well-filled Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium. After the first, second and third quarters there was an equal score, but in the last eight minutes the team of national coach Evangelos Doudesis took the victory.
The Netherlands will face Spain in the final on Saturday (8:30 PM). The Spanish women were much too strong for Greece in their semi-final match: 13-5. The Netherlands-Spain is a repeat of last summer’s World Cup final in Fukuoka, Japan. The Dutch team then won on penalties.
The Dutch water polo players have already been European champions five times (1985, 1987, 1989, 1993 and 2018). With a sixth title, the team would become the record holder. The Dutch team now shares that record with Italy.
The Dutch men were eliminated in the eighth finals at their European Championship in Zagreb earlier on Thursday. The team of national coach Harry van der Meer lost to vice world champion Greece: 10-15.
Photo: ANP
Dutch water polo players have a rough start
The Dutch water polo players had won their first four matches at the European Championships in their own country without too many problems. The world champion therefore started the semi-final against Italy with confidence, but the home team had a difficult start against the five-time European champion.
The Italian defense ensured that the Netherlands usually had to finish under pressure from the shot clock. It resulted in many misses and a first quarter with few goals. After the first eight minutes it was 1-1. The only Dutch goal came from a penalty throw by Simone van de Kraats.
In the second quarter, the Italian fouls piled up. Claudia Marletta even received a red card, after which Lola Moolhuijzen made it 2-1 with a player in the water. Yet it remained a difficult match for the Dutch, with a leading role for the strong Italian goalkeeper Caterina Banchelli. At halftime the score was equal: 3-3.
At the start of the second half, Italy took the lead for the second time (3-4) thanks to a goal from Giulia Viacava. The Netherlands made a lot of sloppy attacks in response, until Maartje Keuning and Van de Kraats scored in the last two minutes of the third quarter (5-4). The Italian team showed resilience and equalized in the final seconds (5-5).
The fourth and final quarter started excellently for the Netherlands with a quick goal from Keuning. Then Sabrina van der Sloot made the crucial 7-5 with two minutes left on the clock. After Roberta Bianconi’s 7-6, goalkeeper Laura Aarts decided the game with a save on the last Italian shot. The Dutch team is in the European Championship final for the tenth time.
2024-01-11 20:35:04
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