Preliminary Round Group Match Reports

Match 13, Group D, SPAIN 23 FRANCE 6 (6-3, 5-2, 6-0, 6-1)

Olympic champion Spain made sure of a second victory in a match that should have been a little stiffer than the clash with South Africa on day one. Spain raced to a 5-0 lead and for the next seven-eight minutes it was a fairly even match as France provided stronger opposition than expected. However, it fell away after that. France knew how to upset Spain, but could still not hold out the fast-finishing team. Following the Spanish tsunami, France pumped in three goals, thanks to a pair to Ema Vernoux. Paula Crespi scored her second and Spain led 6-3 at the first break.

The dominance continued in the second period as five different players scored for Spain and two for France. Vernoux scored on extra and Jade Boughrara from the deep right. For Spain, former captain Bea Ortiz started the scoring, followed by Irene Gonzalez, Elena Ruiz, sister Ariadne Ruiz and Paula Leiton, for her second, took the score to 11-5 at halftime.

The third period extended France’s drought to nearly 14 minutes as six Spanish goals found the French net. Elena Ruiz and Ariadne Ruiz began the surge, followed by Leiton just getting her backhand across the line. Gonzalez scored a second goal while Daniela Moreno converted a penalty foul and Nona Perez was the recipient of a long goalie pass on counter to score for 17-5 at 0:14.

Come the final quarter, Spain was desperate to keep France out but the bubble had to burst some time. Four goals put the match at 21-5 before France gained an exclusion and Valentine Heurtaux converted with a shot down the bottom right for 21-6 — ending nearly 18 minutes of famine. Crespi and Perez added to their tallies as Spain finished with a handsome winning margin.

Match Heroes
Elena Ruiz top-scored with four and Leiton nabbed three for Spain. Vernoux was the only double scorer for France.

Turning Point
The start and then being able to hold France scoreless for so long.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain converted three from five on extra and France three from eight. Spain put away three penalty goals, made an impressive 10 steals to one and shot 41 to 25.

Bottom Line
Spain has that elusive Olympic gold and it is here for more gold. France has reshaped its team since Paris 2024 with players and a coach.

What They Said

Match 12, Group C, CROATIA 7 GREECE 31 (1-9, 4-7, 1-7, 1-8)

Greece bounced back from its shock loss to Hungary on day one. Greece wanted to make a statement that the loss was behind it and there are still plenty of matches to win before the medal scenario unfolds. Greece shut out Croatia with a 5-0 rush with Foteini Tricha scoring twice, once on counter and again on extra. Lara Srhoj made it 5-1 for Croatia before Eirini Ninou sent in a pair for 7-1. Neli Jankovic had her penalty attempt rejected and two more Greek goals pushed the score to 9-1 with Stefania Santa getting hers one second from time.

There were more goals in the second quarter with Greece scoring twice before Croatia awoke and started playing the way it had on day one. Goals were traded to 14-4 when Greece sent in three straight before Jankovic drilled from the top for 16-5 at the halftime mark. Maria Myriokefalitaki, who backhanded the 8-1 goal, went on counter and Santa’s counter was her third goal. Magdalena Butic lobbed at centre forward and Iva Rozic scored from the top for Croatia.

The third period was a strong start for Greece, now more on fire than ever with slick passing and counters. Santa stole the ball and countered while Athina Giannopoulou scored twice with the second on counter for 20-5. Croatia took a timeout for no joy and Vasiliki Plevritou scored for Greece. Croatian skipper Matea Skelin was the recipient of a pass after a steal, leaving her free in front of goal, scoring for her team’s sixth goal. Vasiliki Plevritou on extra and Myriokefalitaki with a carefully considered turn at two metres, took the score to 23-6 by the final break. Tricha scored the two openers and Srhoj responded by 6:15 in the fourth period. Then a procession of Greek goals shunted the score out to 31-7 with the experienced players adding to their tallies. Croatia was beaten but not broken.

Match Heroes
Tricha and Santa slammed in five each and Vasiliki Plevritou four. Goalkeeper Alexia Tzourka made 10 saves. For Croatia, Srhoj topped the scoring with three.

Turning Point
A 5-0 start. No turning point at all.

Stats Don’t Lie
Greece converted an amazing nine from 11 on extra and shut down Croatia three times.On penalties, Greece was one for one and Croatia one from two. For the steals, Greece made 15 to eight and on overall shots — 40 to 27.

Bottom Line
Greece is the World Cup champion and Croatia is far from that level. However, more experience can build for the future.

What They Said

Foteini TRICHA (GRE) — Five Goals

On the team’s performance:

“We dominated the game. We had our rhythm from the beginning. We tried many things in the defence, especially. And the game might not have been difficult, but I think we tried really hard and we faced a very tough defence.”

On being equal top scorer in the match:

Personally, it’s not something that matters a lot. But I’m happy because I’m helping the team achieve what it wants, which is a win. So, I’m really satisfied when I do my job.

On what would be done differently in the upcoming matches:
“We’re looking at our opponents – each one differently. But mostly, we focus on ourselves and try to reach our highest level in every game. So, I think we just need to be focused and more focused in every game that’s coming up, no matter who the opponent is.”

Maria PATRA (GRE)

On the team’s performance after losing to Hungary on day one:

“Even though we’re a bit upset about the last game’s result against Hungary, we showed that our team is very strong and we did our best in offence and defence. We scored a lot of goals, swam a lot and we did well in defence – made lots of blocks. We tried to be better every game, and to keep going forward in the competition as best as we can.”

On what could have been done better:

“We received some goals that were from personal mistakes. Let’s say that we don’t want to receive some blocks that should be made into goals that we received. We try to avoid as many goals as possible, because you win games from defence. The less goals you receive, the better it is for the team.”

On what teams to look out for:
“We have to look out for every opponent. This is a world championship, and every team is here to win. Even if they’re supposedly a team that is not that strong in theory. Everyone plays the same game. We all train for this, and we have to be getting over the opponents. And today’s opponent, Croatia, the goal defence was big — the girls fought a lot. They play a physical game, which is very nice. We don’t see it in a lot of the women’s teams. We have Japan in front of us, which is an important game for us. We have to win it no matter what. Then whoever comes in front of us, we’ll be excited to meet them and excited to play.” 

Mia SIMUNIC (CRO) — Head Coach

On the match:
“Greece was so much better; it’s not a level of opponents that we can play against. They were better in every part of the game – in attack, in defence, in transition, scoring. The result says this, also. We just couldn’t handle their strength and so much attack. When we were in attack, they were playing so strong and pressing. It was difficult.”

On the women’s team making its world championship debut:
“It’s our first time at the world championships and we have really, really young girls in the team; 13 of them are aged 16 to 20 years old. That’s no excuse, of course, but they’re really young.” 

On what she hopes this young team will take from the experience:
“This is a good school for them. This will help them improve their play, to see how strong they have to be, how fast they have to be and how much they have to think when they play against the best teams in the world.”

Match 11, Group D, GREAT BRITAIN 12 SOUTH AFRICA 3 (5-0, 2-2, 3-1, 1-0)

Britain won the clash of the Commonwealth countries, built mainly on that opening quarter. From there on it was hard for South Africa to pull back the deficit but did shut down the Britons at some stages. Britain controlled the first quarter with five goals, denying South Africa many shots to goals. Lily Turner scored twice, once from the penalty line and the second from deep left. That was 3-0 by 6:13. Toula Falvey shot from the top for the fourth goal and Harriet Dickens made it five at 2:40, the quarter-time score. This was a relief from the previous two matches that averaged a little more than 10 goals per quarter. South Africa rose its head in the second quarter with the first two goals — Hannah Weppelman shovelling the ball in from a melee at the left post and Chloe Meecham converting a penalty a minute later for 5-3. Falvey redressed the situation when she scored twice, her second swotting in a rebound off the crossbar. At 3:25, it proved to be the final goal of the half.

Dickens drilled one from the top to start the third quarter

Match Heroes
Turner scored four goals while Dickens and Falvey scored three each. Goalkeeper Cassidy Ball pulled in seven saves. For South Africa, the goalkeepers were supreme with Kyla Moolman making 10 saves from 13 attempts and Lucy Davis made six from 11.

Turning Point
That opening quarter said it all.

Stats Don’t Lie
Both teams struggled on extra, Great Britain scoring one from seven and South Africa one from four. On penalties, Britain conquered two from three and South Africa one from one. Steals went the way of Britain three-nil and the shots 41-27.

Bottom Line
Great Britain is in the ascendancy, having finished 11^th in Doha last year and South Africa 14^th, with more experienced players.

What They Said

Katie BROWN (GBR) — Goal Scorer

On the team’s performance:
“Very well today. It was a very challenging game for us (on Friday) because that was our main game within our group that we really wanted to win. It was really great to have another win under our belts and I think the team performed really well and it was a real team performance.”

On what the team could improve on:
“What we felt afterwards and what our coach said to us right after in our team debrief was that it felt like it was quite a swimming game. There weren’t that many stoppages. So, our finishing could be a lot better in the next game.”

On the team’s performance so far:
“I think we will bring all of that momentum and all of that confidence going forward. However, Spain is a very hard team. They’re the current Olympic champions and so we’ll give them a good go at our next game and we’ll go in with all the confidence that we’ve had from our past two games so far.”

Hannah WEPPELMAN (RSA) — Goal Scorer

On the match:
“It was pretty tough but at the end of the day. I think we came as a team and we really supported one another. We just kept playing and we didn’t give up. That’s the main thing here. We got some scores on the scoreboard. 
“It was a really good game, a lot of physicality but water polo is water polo. I really enjoyed the game, going to make lifelong friends as well so it was really good.”

On scoring the first goal for her team:
“I did, and it felt amazing. It really felt amazing. Getting a goal for my team was really the whole goal. Doing it together and supporting one another – it was really amazing.”

Match 10, Group C, HUNGARY 33 JAPAN 13 (8-3, 8-2, 9-3, 8-5)

Hungary made sure of an easier win than the one-goaler against Greece on day one. Hungary was relentless and potent from all angles as the quarter scores show. Japan struggled to keep up but as the last period shows, it was defiant until the end. Eruna Ura opened for Japan but when Vanda Valyi countered at 6:08, the Hungarian machine was activated. Captain Rita Keszthelyi with a lob on counter and Eszter Varro at centre forward, gave Hungary the 3-1 edge. Goals were traded with Natasa Rybanska scoring three consecutive Hungarian goals and Japanese captain Yumi Arima nailing a penalty goal. Valyi and Kata Hajdu finished the scoring for 8-3 at the quarter break. Arima split two Hajdu goals as it moved to 10-4. Arima then split two Varro goals; Japan missed a penalty attempt and four more Hungarian goals closed the half at 16-5. Keszthelyi scored twice more with Valyi scoring on the drive and Hajdu with a most unusual goal. She shot with nine seconds remaining and the ball drifted as players left the pool. It drifted, and with the fans whirring above, created a zephyr than aided the ball across the line for the 16-5 goal, probably more than 10 seconds after the quarter buzzer.

Valyi started the third period with a pair and Dora Leimeter scored from five metres as goalkeeper Haruka Inaba came out — the second time she did this. Arima and Ai Sunabe, Japan’s first scorer, made it 21-7. Valyi and earlier scorer Dalma Domsodi scored on penalty and centre forward respectively. Maho Kobayashi drilled from the top right and Rybanska added to her total. Dorottya Szilagyi finished all scoring from deep left.

The final quarter was just as breathless with a staggering 13 goals. Keszthelyi opened with the first two goals and then the trading began to 30-11 when Rybanska snared her sixth goal. Hajdu grabbed a fifth off a cross pass and Kamilla Farago finished it all at 0:15 with a lob. Japan had two penalty attempts stopped by Luca Torma and Kaka Kawaguchi scored two extra-player goals in the penultimate minute.

Match Heroes
Rybanska and Valyi for six each, Keszthelyi and Hajdu with five and Varro with four led the 10 scorers for Hungary. The goalkeepers pulled in 14 saves with Torma shining with those penalty stops. Japan’s Arima added four goals to the seven she scored on day one.

Turning Point
Japan going from one down to 9-3 up and beyond.

Stats Don’t Lie
Hungary was awesome on extra plays, converting eight from nine and stopping five of 12. Japan netted four from seven on penalty and Hungary three from four. Hungary out-stole Japan 12-7 and outshot 42-37.

Bottom Line
Hungary is gunning for gold. Japan  

What They Said

Sandor CSEH (HUN) — Head Coach

On the team’s performance:
“I think we played very well. We expected a little bit of difficulty because Japan is a very good team. The team played well in defence. After the third quarter, we conceded only eight goals for Japan and I think this is good.”

On potential improvements:
“Japan always plays very differently. It was very good that we played well against this style and this was the most important thing to start for the future (games).”

Kata HAJDU (HUN) — Five Goals

On the team’s performance:
“We had to really warm up for this match – it was really early. I think we did our best because we tried to score more goals, which I think we did very well.”

On what the team can improve on:
“We have to correct our mistakes in the defending part but I think our goalie was really good. The attack was also really good but we lost so many passes. So, we have to correct that too.”

On the difference from their opening game against Greece:
“Oh my God. It was a really big relief after the Greece match that we’ve won. So, we were really happy when we came out of the pool. But we really didn’t underestimate the Japan team because we know that they will score, go forward and also have a really good defence. So, we had a lot of work in both matches but we proved ourselves that we can do anything better with the team.”

Shota HAZUI (JPN) — Head Coach

On the match:
“The Hungary team is very strong. They have power and their shooting is good, their passes are also very good. Very difficult game for us. We wanted to try some counter-attacks but we couldn’t do it.”

Kako KAWAGUCHI (JPN)

On the match:
“We couldn’t play our style of water polo today. They were too fast and very aggressive, and we made a lot of mistakes.”

On areas of improvement for the next match:
“(We need to be) more focused. Shoot more, get more goals and swim faster. No mistakes.”

Match 9, Group B, CHINA 29 ARGENTINA 9 (9-4, 6-1, 6-1, 8-3)

China started the match with precision and closed the same way. Perhaps the influence of Olympic champion Spanish coach Miki Oca has had a positive effect in the short period he has been with the team? China was precise in all departments, especially on the long cross passes that led to goals. Shooting for the top was also accurate. Argentina was no slouch on attack and gained a considerable number of ejections to keep within sight of China.

China first and then Argentina scored before Nong Sanfeng speared in her second, starting a four-goal spurt. Goals were traded to 7-4 before Yan Jing, tapped in a cross pass on the right post and Yan Siya from the right-hand-catch position where China scored at least three of its goals. Argentina’s goals all came from extra-player situations from four different players. The second period was a little slower as Argentina pressured the Chinese into major fouls. By the half’s end, China had amassed 13 majors to eight. Yan Siya dragged one down on a cross pass to start the second quarter, followed by Bianca Perasso for Argentina with a short drive down the left. The next five goals came from China, three on action, one on counter and Yan Jing on extra for 15-5 at 0:26. Anahi Bacigalupo, who scored Argentina’s third goal, had her penalty shot blocked seconds from halftime. China ripped in five straight to start the third period having the score at 20-5 by 2:41. Shao Yixin and Yan Jing scored their seconds. Shao was free down the left to score her third with Maylen Sampedro finishing a counter for Argentina. Nong fired in her fourth from the top at 0:38 for 21-6 at the last break.

Argentina kept pace with China as by now three Chinese had been binned and one from Argentina. The revelation of this period was centre forward Zhou Shang who turned and scored three goals in two and a half minutes. Shao countered and Zhang Yumian converted a penalty as the score climbed to 27-9. Earlier, Julieta Auliel grabbed her second barring down from the top position; Perasso claimed a second on extra and Bacigalupo made sure of her second penalty attempt. Yan Siya and Zhang Yumian scored their third goals each in the final minute to close the match.

Match Heroes
Nong was named best in pool as she and Zhou and Shao claimed four goals each. Three others scored three and all 12 field players made the sheet. The goalkeepers amassed 10 goals between them. For Argentina, Perasso, Sampedro and Auliel scored twice.

Turning Point
The 5-1 at the beginning, followed by Argentina’s 13-minute drought in the middle stages.

Stats Don’t Lie
China claimed seven from 12 on extra and shit down eight of Argentina’s 14 attempts. China scored both penalty goals and Argentina one from two. China made eight steals to two and fired in 45 shots to 28.

Bottom Line
China was crisp, accurate and dedicated. Perhaps too dedicated when it came to the foul count with three not seeing out the match and a handful of others in foul trouble earlier. Argentina was tireless and three goals in the final quarter was excellent reward for persistence.

What They Said

Miguel OCA (CHN) — Head Coach

On whether he thought China would score so many goals:
“I didn’t think there were going to be that many, but the players were very good going on the counter-attack and had good shooting, and we found the goal very easily.”

On the team’s preparations for Singapore 2025:
“We had seven or eight weeks of preparation and we are growing. That’s the point of the preparation – growing game after game. We need to play a lot of games and to play against strong teams like against the USA and with the Netherlands next. We need these kinds of games to grow.”

On what is special about this team:
“They’re really good girls and they work very hard. They are a very good team. The team has a lot of potential. We need to work and with day-by-day training, we’ll keep on growing and then we’ll see where we arrive.”

WANG Huan (CHN) — Goal Scorer

On winning the match:
“It feels good. We were more aggressive in this match. Apart from some small errors in defence, we followed our game plan, especially in our attack.”

On how the team regrouped after their first match:
“We made some mistakes during that game, so we analysed those mistakes after that and tried to correct them. For this match against Argentina, the opponents were not as strong as the USA. So, for us, our goal was to give it our all and take the win.” 

On the team’s goal for Singapore 2025:
“Our team is newly formed and our foreign coach just arrived, as well. We’ve been working together for only about seven weeks. So, the goal is always to give our best in every match, and we’ll take it one at a time.”

Progress Points

Group A: Australia 3, Italy 3, New Zealand 0, Singapore 0.
Group B: China 3, Netherlands 3, United States of America 3, Argentina 0.
Group C: Hungary 6, Greece 3, Japan 3, Croatia 0.
Group D: Great Britain 6, Spain 3, France 0, South Africa 0.

Day 5 Schedule

Match 17. 09:00. Group B, Argentina v United States of America
Match 18. 10:35. Group C, Greece v Japan
Match 19. 12:10. Group D, South Africa v France
Match 20, 13:45, Group D, Great Britain v Spain
Match 21. 16:00. Group B, China v Netherlands
Match 22. 17:35. Group A, Australia v New Zealand
Match 23. 19:10. Group A, Italy v Singapore
Match 24. 20:45. Group C, Croatia v Hungary