Croatian U-20 Water Polo Team Wins European Championship, Completing Historic Summer

Croatia's young water polo players have achieved a remarkable feat, securing the European Championship title for the U-20 age group. In a thrilling final on August 16, 2026, the "Mlade Barakude" (Young Barracudas) defeated Spain 17-14, capping off an extraordinary summer for Croatian water polo. This latest victory follows the world championship titles won earlier by the U-16 team, coached by Bruno Sabioni, and the U-18 team, led by Hrvoje Koljanin.

The U-20 team's path to gold was not without its challenges. Coached by Zoran Bajić, the team experienced two losses in the group stage, falling to Italy and Greece. However, they rallied to secure a narrow 14-13 victory over Serbia in the quarterfinals. Buoyed by newfound confidence, they then dominated Italy 19-11 in the semifinals before facing Spain in the final.

The final match was a hard-fought contest. Spain initially led 6-3, but Croatia fought back to take a two-goal advantage, 9-7, by the third quarter. Spain managed to equalize, but Croatia entered the final period with a slim lead. In the closing minutes, strong defensive plays by Dragaš and Burburan, coupled with crucial goals from Šušić, Tončinić, and Burburan again, sealed the victory. Jerković provided four assists, drawing comparisons to the legendary Maro Joković.

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