BREAKING: Hungary claim silver in men’s Water Polo European Championships!

The Hungarian national team finished as silver medallists at the men’s Water Polo European Championships in Belgrade. Zsolt Varga’s side suffered a 10–7 defeat to hosts and reigning Olympic champions Serbia in Sunday’s final.

The match was decided by Serbia’s outstanding defence, as Hungary managed to score only twice in the second half. Dušan Mandić, the FTC legionnaire, played a key role in his team’s success with four goals.

Including Yugoslavia’s results, Serbia claimed their ninth continental title overall, lifting the trophy again for the first time since 2018.

For Hungary, 13-time European champions, this was their ninth “classic” final appearance. They had to settle for silver for the sixth time, but they continue to lead the all-time medal table by a considerable margin with a record of 13 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze medals.

Final: Serbia–Hungary 10–7 (3–2, 2–3, 2–1, 3–1)

Goals: Mandić 4, Lukić 2, Dražović, Vico, Martinović, Lazić 1 each; Vigvári V. 3, Nagy Á., Jansik S., Varga, Fekete 1 each

The two most successful teams in the history of the European Championships had already faced each other during the intermediate round. A week earlier, the hosts won 15–14 in a match where they enjoyed far more man-advantage situations than Hungary and, as later emerged, benefited from timing errors at the officials’ table. From Hungary’s 15-man squad, Benedek Batizi was again left out, while Serbia were able to field captain Nikola Jakšić, who had received a red card in the semi-final but was cleared on appeal – with Hungary’s consent.

Both sides missed early man-advantage opportunities, but Hungary’s second power play was converted by Vendel Vigvári. Lukić found space to score at the other end, while Serbia defended effectively when a man down. The hosts took the lead for the first time with a double-man advantage, but Hungary responded through Ákos Nagy on the rebound. Exclusions followed in quick succession at both ends, Serbia regained the lead with Lukić’s second goal, and although Kovács was sent off late in the quarter, Vogel made his first save to keep the score at 3–2.

The second quarter began with Jansik scoring on the power play, followed by another Vogel save and a thunderous man-advantage finish from Manhercz off the crossbar. Hungary counter-attacked from a poor Serbian shot, leaving Vendel Vigvári unmarked to score under the bar over Glušac. Serbia struggled in attack, but Glušac kept the score level at the back.

The hosts equalised from a Mandić penalty, and after Hungary missed another power play, Ákos Nagy picked up his second personal foul while swimming back. Following a timeout from Uroš Stevanović, Vendel Vigvári won the ball short-handed. Angyal was also excluded for the second time, and Vico finished from close range. Hungary’s next man advantage was converted emphatically by the youngest player in the squad, 21-year-old Vince Varga. After a turnover, Hungary had the final attack of the half but a poor pass ended the chance, and the teams went into the break level at 5–5.

More than a minute and a half passed in the third quarter without a goal before Mandić rose from the water to score from a free throw with just 1.1 seconds left on the shot clock. The three-time Olympic champion then saw Martinović double Serbia’s lead on the power play. Hungary went almost half a quarter without a dangerous attempt before a timely man advantage saw Fekete finish from close range after a timeout from Zsolt Varga.

Thirty seconds later, Fekete earned another power play, but Ádám Nagy fired well over the bar. On the swim back, Vince Vigvári was excluded, followed by Varga, yet Vogel produced a brilliant save while two men down. Fekete broke free at the other end but was stopped in suspicious circumstances, leaving the score at 7–6.

The final eight minutes of the championship began with inaccurate shooting on both sides. In a man-advantage situation, Glušac denied Jansik, and after almost four minutes without a goal, Tátrai was excluded. Serbia’s head coach called a timeout, and referees awarded a penalty for a foul on Varga near goal. Zsolt Varga requested a VAR review, but the decision stood. Unsurprisingly, Mandić stepped up and calmly converted the crucial penalty to make it 8–6.

Hungary had a chance to pull one back on the power play, but Manhercz was again denied by Glušac. Serbia then earned a man advantage of their own, and Lazić finished from close range, seemingly deciding the contest with three minutes remaining (9–6).

Mandić won the ball while two men down and went on to score his fourth goal at the other end – the final nail in the coffin. Hungary continued to attack without a goalkeeper in the closing moments, while the home fans unfurled a huge national flag in celebration as the match ended 10–7.