Croatia men's national water polo team

The Croatia men's national water polo team represents Croatia in international water polo competitions and friendly matches. It is controlled by the Croatian Water Polo Federation. They have won gold medals in the Olympics, World and European Championships, FINA World League and Mediterranean Games, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world.

Croatia

FINA code	CRO
Nickname(s)	Barakude (The Barracudas)
Association	Croatian Water Polo Federation
Confederation	LEN (Europe)
Head coach	Ivica Tucak
Asst coach	Mile Smodlaka Sandro Sukno
Captain	Andro Bušlje
Most caps	Igor Hinić (417)
Top scorer	Miho Bošković (369)
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current	2 (as of February 2020)
Highest	1 (2012, 2013)
Lowest	6 (2008)
Olympic Games
Appearances	6 (first in 1996)
Best result	(2012)
World Championship
Appearances	12 (first in 1994)
Best result	(2007, 2017)
World Cup
Appearances	7 (first in 1995)
Best result	(2010)
World League
Appearances	9 (first in 2002)
Best result	(2012)
European Championship
Appearances	14 (first in 1993)
Best result	(2010)
Europa Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2018)
Best result	(2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances	6 (first in 1993)
Best result	(2013)
Media
Website	hvs.hr
Medal record Olympic Games 2012 London Team 1996 Atlanta Team 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team World Championship 2007 Melbourne Team 2017 Budapest Team 2015 Kazan Team 2009 Rome Team 2011 Shanghai Team 2013 Barcelona Team 2019 Gwangju Team World Cup 2010 Oradea 2014 Almaty World League 2012 Almaty 2009 Podgorica 2015 Bergamo 2019 Belgrade 2010 Niš 2011 Florence 2017 Ruza European Championship 2010 Zagreb 1999 Florence 2003 Kranj 2018 Barcelona Europa Cup 2018 Rijeka 2019 Zagreb Mediterranean Games 2013 Mersin 1993 Languedoc-Roussillon 1997 Bari

They are Croatia's most successful national team, having won more titles than all other Croatian national teams.

It was the first Croatian national team in any sport to win at gold medal at the Olympic Games or World Games, the World Championships, and European Championships.

History

After the independence of Croatia the national water polo team competed at its first tournament and also its first finals at 1993 Mediterranean Games, followed by the 1993 European Championships where Croatia won 5th place.

Croatia has since became Olympic champion (2012), double World champion (2007, 2017) and European champion (2010). Croatia has also won eight other medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships and was fourth on six occasions. The team holds a record streak of winning 6 medals in a row at World Championships and has reached semi-finals in over 60% of appearances at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships altogether since 2017. Since the formation of national team Croatia has qualified for every big tournament. It is the first Croatian national team in any Olympic team sport that has won gold medals at all three big competitions. Croatia has also won World League (2012) and Mediterranean Games (2013). The only competition Croatia has yet to win is World Cup where the national team won silver medal in 2010.

The team has been awarded with Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport in 1996. So far two International Swimming Hall of Fame inductees have been members of Croatia national team – Perica Bukić as a player and Ratko Rudić as a coach.

Results

Medals

Updated after 2019 World Aquatics Championships

Competition				Total
Olympic Games	1	2	0	3
World Championship	2	1	4	7
World Cup	0	1	1	2
World League	1	3	3	7
European Championship	1	2	1	4
Europa Cup	1	1	0	2
Mediterranean Games	1	1	1	3
Total	7	11	10	28

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place       Fourth place  

Summer Olympics

Year[1] Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD 1992 Couldn't participate in qualification 1996 Final 8 5 0 3 71 58 +13 2000 Quarterfinal 7th 8 5 1 2 68 56 +12 2004 Preliminary Round 10th 6 2 0 4 47 42 +5 2008 Quarterfinal 6th 7 4 0 3 71 49 +22 2012 Final 8 8 0 0 73 42 +31 2016 Final 8 5 0 3 66 62 +4 2020 TBD Total Qualified: 6/6 45 29 1 15 396 309 +87

Record against other teams at the Summer Olympics National team Pld W D L PF PA PD Australia 2 2 0 0 21 14 +7 China 1 1 0 0 16 4 +12 Egypt 1 1 0 0 12 1 +11 Germany 1 1 0 0 13 5 +8 Greece 3 3 0 0 25 16 +9 Hungary 2 1 0 1 16 17 −1 Italy 5 4 0 1 45 35 +10 Kazakhstan 2 2 0 0 17 8 +9 Montenegro 2 1 0 1 13 12 +1 Netherlands 1 1 0 0 11 7 +4 Romania 1 1 0 0 11 6 +5 Russia 1 0 0 1 8 9 −1 Serbia 2 1 0 1 18 19 −1 Serbia and Montenegro 3 1 1 1 20 21 −1 Spain 4 1 0 3 30 34 −4 Ukraine 1 1 0 0 16 8 +8 United States 6 2 0 4 45 42 +3 Total 17 teams

World Championships

Year[1] Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD 1994 Semi-final 4th 7 4 0 3 87 57 +30 1998 Second Round 9th 8 4 2 2 94 46 +48 2001 Second Round 8th 8 4 0 4 70 52 +18 2003 Second Round 9th 6 3 1 2 49 39 +10 2005 Semi-final 4th 7 4 0 3 59 44 +15 2007 Final 6 6 0 0 62 40 +22 2009 Semi-final 6 5 0 1 63 35 +28 2011 Semi-final 6 5 0 1 72 42 +30 2013 Semi-final 7 6 0 1 89 44 +45 2015 Final 6 5 0 1 68 45 +23 2017 Final 6 6 0 0 70 47 +23 2019 Semi-final 6 5 0 1 77 37 +40 2021 Total Qualified: 12/12 79 57 3 19 860 524 +332

Record against other teams at the World Championships National team Pld W D L PF PA PD Australia 6 5 0 1 49 43 +6 Brazil 4 4 0 0 52 22 +30 Canada 5 5 0 0 68 26 +42 China 3 3 0 0 49 7 +42 Germany 1 0 0 1 3 7 −4 Greece 4 2 0 2 51 49 +2 Hungary 5 2 1 3 50 56 −6 Italy 4 1 1 2 32 34 −2 Japan 2 2 0 0 26 9 +17 Kazakhstan 1 1 0 0 19 4 +15 Montenegro 4 4 0 0 40 21 +19 Netherlands 2 2 0 0 23 13 +10 New Zealand 3 3 0 0 75 8 +67 Romania 3 3 0 0 25 18 +7 Russia 6 3 0 3 51 38 +13 Serbia 4 2 0 2 37 41 −4 Serbia and Montenegro 2 0 1 1 10 11 −1 Slovakia 1 1 0 0 12 3 +9 South Africa 2 2 0 0 32 5 +27 Spain 2 0 0 2 10 17 −7 United States 6 5 0 1 56 43 +13 Total 21 teams 3

World Cup

Year[1] Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD 1993 Could not qualify[2] 1995 Preliminary Round 6th 5 2 0 3 25 31 −6 1997 Preliminary Round 8th 5 1 0 4 30 40 −10 1999 Did not qualify 2002 Preliminary Round 8th 4 0 1 3 26 32 −6 2006 Semi-final 4th 6 2 1 3 54 56 −2 2010 Final 6 5 0 1 74 43 +31 2014 Semi-final 6 4 0 2 43 37 +6 2018 Quarterfinal 5th 6 4 1 1 84 41 +43 Total Qualified: 7/8 38 18 3 17 336 280 +56

Record against other teams at the World Cup National team Pld W D L PF PA PD Australia 1 1 0 0 6 3 +3 China 1 1 0 0 14 4 +10 Greece 2 1 1 0 12 11 +1 Hungary 3 0 0 3 17 30 −13 Iran 1 1 0 0 23 2 +21 Italy 2 0 0 2 9 13 −4 Kazakhstan 1 1 0 0 14 7 +7 Montenegro 1 1 0 0 6 5 +1 Netherlands 1 1 0 0 9 7 +2 Romania 1 1 0 0 10 7 +3 Russia 2 1 0 1 17 19 −2 Serbia 3 1 0 2 21 28 −7 Serbia and Montenegro 3 1 0 2 18 18 0 Spain 5 0 1 4 33 45 −12 United States 5 3 0 2 43 40 +3 Total 15 teams

World League

Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.
* marks instances of not qualifying for the super final due to "host rule".

Year[1]	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L
2002	Did not qualify for the Super Final		12	2	0	10
2003	Did not compete
2004
2005	Group Round	4th	14	8	0	6
2006 *	Did not qualify for the Super Final		11	7	0	4
2007			8	3	0	5
2008 *			6	3	0	3
2009	Final		12	9	0	3
2010	Semi-final		12	8	0	4
2011	Semi-final		11	10	0	1
2012	Final		10	10	0	0
2013 *	Did not qualify for the Super Final		6	4	0	2
2014			4	1	0	3
2015	Final		14	12	0	2
2016	Did not qualify for the Super Final		6	4	0	2
2017	Semi-final		12	10	0	2
2018	Quarterfinal	5th	10	7	0	3
2019	Final		6	4	0	2
Total	Participated: 16/18 Qualified for the Super Final: 9/16		154	102	0	52

European Championships

Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD 1993 Preliminary round 5th 7 5 0 2 72 58 +14 1995 Semi-final 4th 7 2 2 3 78 58 +20 1997 Semi-final 4th 8 5 1 2 60 44 +16 1999 Final 8 6 0 2 71 59 +12 2001 Semi-final 4th 8 3 2 3 63 57 +6 2003 Final 8 6 0 2 66 55 +11 2006 Preliminary round 7th 8 4 2 2 90 72 +18 2008 Semi-final 4th 8 4 1 3 81 69 +12 2010 Final 7 6 0 1 71 44 +27 2012 Preliminary round 9th 7 4 0 3 80 66 +14 2014 Quarterfinal 5th 7 3 2 2 64 54 +10 2016 Quarterfinal 7th 7 4 0 3 88 50 +38 2018 Semi-final 6 5 0 1 76 41 +35 2020 Semi-final 4th 6 4 0 2 75 53 +22 Total Qualified: 14/14 102 61 10 31 1035 780 +255

Record against other teams at the European Championships National team Pld W D L PF PA PD Austria 1 1 0 0 26 2 +24 France 2 2 0 0 26 14 +12 Germany 8 4 2 2 76 66 +10 Greece 9 6 3 0 78 65 +13 Hungary 11 1 1 9 97 120 −23 Italy 9 5 1 3 66 62 +4 Montenegro 4 2 0 2 33 34 −1 Netherlands 3 3 0 0 40 13 +27 Romania 4 2 0 2 43 35 +8 Russia 5 3 1 1 44 36 +8 Serbia 3 1 1 1 30 32 −2 Serbia and Montenegro 4 1 0 3 30 32 −2 Slovakia 6 5 0 1 64 37 +27 Slovenia 3 3 0 0 37 16 +21 Spain 7 5 1 1 56 50 +6 Turkey 1 1 0 0 16 3 +13 Ukraine 3 3 0 0 34 19 +15 Total 17 teams

LEN Europa Cup

Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L
2018	Final		8	7	0	1
2019	Final		7	5	0	2
Total	Participated: 2/2 Qualified for the Super Final: 2/2		15	12	0	3

Mediterranean Games

Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L
1993	Final
1997	Final
2001	Preliminary Round	5th
2005	Semi-final	4th	5	2	0	3
2009	Semi-final	4th	5	3	0	2
2013	Final		4	4	0	0
2018	Did not participate
Total	Participated: 6/7		14	9	0	5

Team

Current squad

Roster for the 2020 Men's European Water Polo Championship.[3]

Head coach: Ivica Tucak[4]

No	Name	Pos.	L/R	Date of birth	Height	Weight	Caps	Club
1	Marko Bijač	GK	R	(1991-01-12) 12 January 1991	1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)	88 kg (194 lb)		Pro Recco
2	Marko Macan	DF	R	(1993-04-26) 26 April 1993	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	109 kg (240 lb)		VK Jug
3	Loren Fatović	W	R	(1996-11-16) 16 November 1996	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	84 kg (185 lb)		VK Jug
4	Luka Lončar	CF	R	(1987-06-26) 26 June 1987	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	106 kg (234 lb)		VK Jug
5	Maro Joković	W	L	(1987-01-10) 10 January 1987	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)	96 kg (212 lb)		Olympiacos
6	Luka Bukić	W	R	(1994-04-30) 30 April 1994	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)	90 kg (200 lb)		HAVK Mladost
7	Ante Vukičević	W	R	(1993-02-24) 24 February 1993	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)	95 kg (209 lb)		CN Marseille
8	Andro Bušlje (C)	DF	R	(1986-01-04) 4 January 1986	1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)	115 kg (254 lb)		Pro Recco
9	Lovre Miloš	W	R	(1994-04-05) 5 April 1994	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)	94 kg (207 lb)	7	HAVK Mladost
10	Josip Vrlić	CF	R	(1986-04-25) 25 April 1986	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	130 kg (290 lb)		HAVK Mladost
11	Hrvoje Benić	D	R	(1992-04-26) 26 April 1992	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	100 kg (220 lb)		VK Jug
12	Xavier García	W	L	(1984-01-05) 5 January 1984	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)	92 kg (203 lb)		VK Jug
13	Ivan Marcelić	GK	R	(1994-02-18) 18 February 1994	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)	106 kg (234 lb)		HAVK Mladost

Player statistics

Most appearances # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Player Matches Positions Years Igor Hinić 417 C Tomislav Paškvalin 285 C Samir Barać 176 PP Andro Bušlje 167 HG Faris Okanovic 161 Teo Đogaš 148 PP Frano Vićan 129 GK Elvis Fatović 128 PP Josip Pavić 120 GK Damir Burić 117 HG Miho Bošković 108 PP, HG Sandro Sukno 97 PP Petar Muslim 90 PP, SC Maro Joković 89 PP Nikša Dobud 83 C Vjekoslav Kobešćak 86 PP Ratko Štritof 80 HG Ivan Buljubašić 79 HG Paulo Obradović 68 PP, HG Zdeslav Vrdoljak 58 PP Anđelo Šetka 57 PP Dubravko Šimenc 52 PP Goran Volarević 52 GK Frano Karač 37 PP Tihomil Vranješ 35 PP Pavo Marković 33 PP Perica Bukić 30 PP Luka Lončar 20 C Antonio Petković PP bold – not retired from national team

Top scorers # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Name Goals Average Position Years Miho Bošković 369 3.42 PP, HG Paulo Obradović 197 PP, HG Maro Joković 158 PP Samir Barać 135 0.77 PP Faris Okanovic 26 0.85 PP Igor Hinić 113 0.27 C Petar Muslim 100 PP, SC Nikša Dobud 86 1.02 C

Head coaches

• Duško Antunović (1991–1993)
• Bruno Silić (1993–1998)
• Neven Kovačević (1998–2001)
• Veselin Duho (2002–2003)
• Zoran Roje (2003–2005)
• Ratko Rudić (2005–2012)
• Ivica Tucak (2012–)

Notable players

• Milivoj Bebić [N 1]
• Zdravko Ježić
• Zdravko Kovačić
• Renco Posinković
• Karlo Stipanić

Naturalized players

Andrey Belofastov (Ukraine), Xavier García (Spain)[5] Faris Okanovic (Sweden)

Statistics

Record against other teams

As of 24 January 2020

NO FRIENDLY fixtures.

Key

	Positive total balance (more wins)
	Neutral total balance (equal W/L ratio)
	Negative total balance (more losses)

Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.

National team	Total				Olympic Games				World Championship				World Cup				World League				European Championship				Europa Cup				Mediterranean Games				Qualifications
	Pld	W	D	L	Pld	W	D	L	Pld	W	D	L	Pld	W	D	L	Pld	W	D	L	Pld	W	D	L	Pld	W	D	L	Pld	W	D	L	Pld	W	D	L
Australia	19	16	0	3	2	2	0	0	7	6	0	1	2	1	0	1	8	7	0	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Austria	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Belarus	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Brazil	8	7	0	1	1	1	0	0	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2	0	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Canada	7	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
China	6	6	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Egypt	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
France	10	9	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	4	0	0	3	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Georgia	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Germany	26	20	2	4	1	1	0	0	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	12	11	0	1	9	5	2	2	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	2	2	0	0
Great Britain	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Greece	37	24	4	9	3	2	0	1	3	1	0	2	2	1	1	0	14	9	0	5	11	8	3	0	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hungary	36	9	2	25	2	1	0	1	8	4	1	3	3	0	0	3	11	3	0	8	12	1	1	10	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Iran	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Italy	42	23	2	17	6	5	0	1	5	2	1	2	2	0	0	2	14	8	0	6	11	6	1	4	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	2	1	1	0	0
Japan	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Kazakhstan	9	9	0	0	2	2	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	4	4	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Macedonia	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Malta	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Moldova	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Montenegro	25	16	0	9	4	3	0	1	3	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	9	3	0	6	6	4	0	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Netherlands	14	14	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	4	4	0	0	5	5	0	0	1	1	0	0	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
New Zealand	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Poland	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Puerto Rico	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Romania	17	14	0	3	1	1	0	0	3	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	4	3	0	1	4	2	0	2	1	1	0	0	—	—	—	—	3	3	0	0
Russia	35	23	1	11	1	1	0	0	7	4	0	3	2	1	0	1	18	13	0	5	6	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	1	0	0	1
Serbia *	43	13	4	26	5	2	1	2	6	2	1	3	7	2	1	4	11	2	0	9	9	2	1	6	3	3	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Slovakia	9	8	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	6	0	1	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Slovenia	6	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	0
South Africa	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Spain	37	17	2	18	5	1	0	4	3	0	0	3	5	0	1	4	11	6	0	5	7	5	1	1	2	2	0	0	4	3	0	1	0	0	0	0
Turkey	10	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	6	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Switzerland	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Ukraine	4	4	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
United States	35	24	0	11	7	3	0	4	8	7	0	1	7	5	0	2	13	9	0	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Total (36)	464	308	17	139

* includes games against  Serbia and Montenegro / FR Yugoslavia

Biggest wins

double digit goal difference

Olympic Games	World Championship	World Cup	World League	European Championship	Europa Cup	Mediterranean Games	Qualifications
+12 vs. China (16–4) 2008 +11 vs. Egypt (12–1) 2004	+34 vs. New Zealand (35–1) 1994 +19 vs. South Africa (19–0) 2013 +17 vs. New Zealand (21–4) 2013 +16 vs. New Zealand (19–3) 1998 +15 vs. Canada (19–4) 2005 +15 vs. Kazakhstan (19–4) 1998 +11 vs. Brasil (17–6) 1998 +11 vs. Japan (18–7) 2011 +10 vs. Canada (13–3) 2003 +10 vs. China (15–5) 2009 +10 vs. Japan (16–6) 2017 +10 vs. Russia (13–3) 2007	+23 vs. South Africa (25–2) 2018 +21 vs. Iran (23–2) 2010 +13 vs. South Africa (16–3) 2018 +10 vs. China (14–4) 2010	+21 vs. South Africa (22–1) 2010 +19 vs. Turkey (20–1) 2013 +17 vs. Brasil (20–3) 2012 +16 vs. Kazakhstan (20–4) 2019 +16 vs. Kazakhstan (19–3) 2017 +14 vs. Turkey (17–3) 2013 +13 vs. Spain (19–6) 2006 +13 vs. Turkey (19–6) 2016 +13 vs. Turkey (16–3) 2016 +11 vs. Netherlands (18–7) 2017 +10 vs. Brasil (17–7) 2005 +10 vs. China (15–5) 2011 +10 vs. China (14–4) 2015 +10 vs. France (16–6) 2017 +10 vs. Kazahstan (15–5) 2018 +10 vs. Netherlands (17–7) 2017 +10 vs. Russia (14–4) 2018 +10 vs. Turkey (13–3) 2015	+24 vs. Austria (26–2) 1995 +21 vs. Turkey (23–2) 2018 +20 vs. Malta (22–2) 2016 +15 vs. France (20–5) 2016 +13 vs. Turkey (16–3) 2010 +12 vs. Netherlands (16–4) 2012 +11 vs. Slovenia (19–8) 2006 +10 vs. Slovakia (15–5) 2008	+15 vs. France (20–5) 2018 +12 vs. Netherlands (16–4) 2018 +11 vs. Malta (16–5) 2018	+13 vs. Turkey (17–4) 2013 +11 vs. Greece (14–3) 2009	+20 vs. Georgia (23–3) 1999 +17 vs. Puerto Rico (18–1) 2004 +12 vs. Romania (12–0) 2004

Biggest losses

Olympic Games	World Championship	World Cup	World League	European Championship	Europa Cup	Mediterranean Games
-4 vs. Italy (7–11) 2004	-7 vs. Serbia (4–11) 2015 -6 vs. Hungary (4–10) 2005 -5 vs. Spain (6–11) 1994	-6 vs. Serbia (7–13) 2010 -5 vs. Hungary (6–11) 1997 -5 vs. Russia (5–10) 1997 -5 vs. Spain (2–7) 1995	-9 vs. Hungary (6–15) 2007 -8 vs. Greece (5–13) 2008 -7 vs. Brasil (10–17) 2015	-7 vs. Serbia (6–13) 2016 -6 vs. Hungary (5–11) 1995 -5 vs. Hungary (11–16) 2006	-2 vs. Greece 2018 -2 vs. Hungary 2019	-9 vs. Italy (5–14) 2005 -6 vs. Serbia (8–14) 2009

Non-senior competitions

World Youth Championship U-18 Year Round Position 2012 Semi-final 4th 2014 Quarterfinal 8th 2016 Champions 1st

World Junior Championship U-20 Year Round Position 1991 1993 1995 1997 Final 1999 2001 Final 2003 Quarterfinal 7th 2005 Final 2007 Semi-final 2009 Final 2011 Quarterfinal 6th 2013 Final 2015

European Youth Championship U-17 Year Round Position 2003 Semi-final 2005 Final 2007 Semi-final 2008 Semi-final 2009 Final 2011 Final 2013 Qualified 2015 * Semi-final 4th * incorporated in the 1st European Games

European Junior Championship U-19 Year Round Position 2004 Final 2006 Semi-final 4th 2008 Quarterfinal 5th 2010 Semi-final 2012 Semi-final 2014 Semi-final

Awards

• Croatian team of the year: 1999, 2017, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017

See also

• Yugoslavia men's national water polo team
• List of Olympic champions in men's water polo
• List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics
• List of world champions in men's water polo

Notes

1. FINA waterpolo player of the year in 1982., 1984. and 1985. Scored 28 goals in one game which is a world record for waterpolo game (final score: Yugoslavia 62–0 Guatemala). First waterpolo player in history to sign a 6 digit contract.

References

1. "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics – Download" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2017. pp. 5, 15, 25, 45. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
2. Qualification for the tournament was determined by placing in the 1992 Olympics tournament. Since the Croatian team couldn't had participated in the 1992 Olympic water polo tournament due to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, it couldn't qualify for the 1993 World Cup.
3. "Team Rosters" (PDF). wp2020budapest.microplustiming.com/. 11 January 2020. p. 1.
4. Croatia – Team Info – globalsportarchive.com (European Water Polo Championship, 2020 Budapest)
5. http://hrsport.net/vijesti/496096/vodeni-sportovi-reprezentacija/stigla-potvrda-iz-moo-a-javier-garcia-s-hrvatskom-na-olimpijskim-igrama-u-riju/

External links

• Official website