Croatia men's national water polo team

Croatia

Nickname(s)	Barakude (The Barracudas)
Association	Croatian Water Polo Federation
Confederation	LEN (Europe)
Head coach	Ivica Tucak
Asst coach	Ivan Asić Pero Kuterovac
Captain	Josip Pavić
FINA code	CRO
Olympic Games
Appearances	6 (first in 1996)
Best result	(2012)
World Championships
Appearances	9 (first in 1994)
Best result	(2007)
World League
Appearances	10 (first in 2002)
Best result	(2012)
European Championship
Appearances	12 (first in 1993)
Best result	(2010)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances	6 (first in 1993)
Best result	(2013)

Croatia men's national water polo team

Medal record
Olympic Games
	2012 London	Team
	1996 Atlanta	Team
World Championship
	2007 Melbourne	Team
	2015 Kazan	Team
	2009 Rome	Team
	2011 Shanghai	Team
	2013 Barcelona	Team
World Cup
	2010 Oradea
	2014 Almaty
World League
	2012 Kazakhstan
	2009 Montenegro
	2015 Italy
	2010 Serbia
	2011 Italy
European Championship
	2010 Croatia
	1999 Italy
	2003 Slovenia
Mediterranean Games
	2013 Mersin	Team
	1993 Languedoc-Roussillon	Team
	1997 Bari	Team

The Croatia men's national water polo team represents Croatia in international water polo competitions and friendly matches. It is governed by the Croatian Water Polo Federation.

Results

Prior to 1992 Croatia men's national water polo team competed as a part of Yugoslavia men's national water polo team.

Croatia men's national water polo team has been placed 4th at international competitions on 12 occasions, the most being achieved at European Championships, but none at the Olympics. Despite this fact, the team has also managed to win 26 medals at international competitions shown in the tables below.

Summer Olympics

Year 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 Qualified 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2020 Total Qualified: 6/6 37 23 1 13 330 247 +83

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 2 0 1 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 1 1 0 0 11 8 +3 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 Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD 1994 Semifinal 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 Semifinal 4th 7 4 0 3 59 44 +15 2007 Final 6 6 0 0 62 40 +22 2009 Semifinal 6 5 0 1 63 35 +28 2011 Semifinal 6 5 0 1 72 42 +30 2013 Semifinal 7 6 0 1 89 44 +45 2015 Final 6 5 0 1 68 45 +23 2017 Qualification in progress 2019 2021 Total Qualified: 10/10 61 41 3 17 645 399 +246

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 3 1 0 2 25 30 -5 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

European Championships

Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD 1993 Preliminary Round 5th 7 5 0 2 72 58 +14 1995 Semifinal 4th 7 2 2 3 78 58 +20 1997 Semifinal 4th 8 5 1 2 60 44 +16 1999 Final 8 6 0 2 71 59 +12 2001 Semifinal 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 Semifinal 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 Total Qualified: 12/12 90 52 10 28 884 686 +198

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

World League

Year	Round	Position
2002	Preliminary Round	7th
2003	Did not compete
2004
2005	Group Round	4th
2006	Did not qualify for the Super Final
2007
2008
2009	Final
2010	Semifinal
2011	Semifinal
2012	Final
2013	Did not qualify for the Super Final
2014	Did not qualify for the Super Final
2015	Final
Total	Qualified for the Super Final: 7/14

World Cup

Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD 1993 Couldn't qualify[1] 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 Semifinal 4th 6 2 1 3 54 56 -2 2010 Final 6 5 0 1 74 43 +31 2014 Semifinal 6 4 0 2 43 37 +6 Total Qualified: 6/7 32 14 2 16 252 239 +13

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

Mediterranean Games

Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L
1993	Final
1997	Final
2001	Preliminary Round	5th
2005	Semifinal	4th	5	2	0	3
2009	Semifinal	4th	5	3	0	2
2013	Final		4	4	0	0
2017	TBD
Total	Participated: 6/6		14	9	0	5

Non-senior competitions

World Youth Championship U-18 Year Round Position 2012 Semifinal 4th 2014 Quarterfinal 8th 2016 Qualification in progress

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

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

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

Team

Current squad

Squad for the 2016 Men's European Water Polo Championship.

No.	Name	Date of birth	Position	L/R	Height	Weight	Club
1	Pavić, JosipJosip Pavić (c)	15 January 1982	Goalkeeper	R	195 cm (6 ft 5 in)	90 kg (200 lb)	Olympiacos
2	Burić, DamirDamir Burić	2 December 1980	Hole Guard	R	205 cm (6 ft 9 in)	115 kg (254 lb)	Primorje
3	Petković, AntonioAntonio Petković	11 January 1986		R	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)	85 kg (187 lb)	Sport Management
4	Lončar, LukaLuka Lončar	26 June 1987	Centre Forward	R	195 cm (6 ft 5 in)	107 kg (236 lb)	Mladost
5	Joković, MaroMaro Joković	1 October 1987		L	203 cm (6 ft 8 in)	95 kg (209 lb)	Jug Dubrovnik
6	Bukić, LukaLuka Bukić	30 April 1994	Wing	R	194 cm (6 ft 4 in)	81 kg (179 lb)	Mladost
7	Vukicević, AnteAnte Vukicević	24 February 1993		R	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)	93 kg (205 lb)	Primorje
8	Bušlje, AndroAndro Bušlje	4 January 1986	Hole Guard	R	200 cm (6 ft 7 in)	115 kg (254 lb)	Posillipo
9	Sukno, SandroSandro Sukno	30 June 1990		R	200 cm (6 ft 7 in)	93 kg (205 lb)	Pro Recco
10	Pavlović, BorisBoris Pavlović	12 October 1980	Centre Forward	R	200 cm (6 ft 7 in)	110 kg (240 lb)	Jadran Split
11	Šetka, AnđeloAnđelo Šetka	14 September 1985		R	186 cm (6 ft 1 in)	87 kg (192 lb)	Primorje
12	Macan, MarkoMarko Macan	26 April 1993	Hole Guard	R	195 cm (6 ft 5 in)	98 kg (216 lb)	Jug Dubrovnik
13	Bijač, MarkoMarko Bijač	12 January 1991	Goalkeeper	R	201 cm (6 ft 7 in)	85 kg (187 lb)	Jug Dubrovnik
Head coach: Ivica Tucak

Player statistics

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

Top scorers # Name Goals Average Position Years 1 Miho Bošković 369 3.42 PP, HG 2 Paulo Obradović 197 PP, HG 3 Maro Joković 158 PP 4 Samir Barać 135 0.77 PP 5 Teo Đogaš 126 0.85 PP 6 Igor Hinić 113 0.27 C 7 Petar Muslim 100 PP, SC 8 Nikša Dobud 86 1.02 C

Head coaches

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

Statistics

Record against other teams

As of 24 Jan 2016

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

National team	Total				Olympic Games				World Championship				World Cup				World League				European Championship				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
Australia	14	12	0	2	2	2	0	0	6	5	0	1	1	1	0	0	5	4	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
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	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Brazil	7	6	0	1	0	0	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	6	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	3	3	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	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Germany	21	15	2	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	9	8	0	1	8	4	2	2	—	—	—	—	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	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Greece	31	20	4	7	3	2	0	1	3	1	0	2	2	1	1	0	12	8	0	4	9	6	3	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hungary	33	7	2	24	2	1	0	1	6	2	1	3	3	0	0	3	10	3	0	7	12	1	1	10	—	—	—	—	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	37	20	2	15	5	4	0	1	4	1	1	2	2	0	0	2	12	8	0	4	10	5	1	4	3	1	0	2	1	1	0	0
Japan	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Kazakhstan	5	5	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	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
Malta	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
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	—	—	—	—	1	1	0	0
Montenegro	20	11	0	9	2	1	0	1	3	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	9	3	0	6	4	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Netherlands	10	10	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	0	4	4	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	—	—	—	—	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	16	13	0	3	1	1	0	0	3	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	4	3	0	1	4	2	0	2	—	—	—	—	3	3	0	0
Russia	30	18	1	11	1	1	0	0	6	3	0	3	2	1	0	1	14	9	0	5	6	4	1	1	—	—	—	—	1	0	0	1
Serbia*	34	9	3	22	4	2	1	1	5	1	1	3	6	2	0	4	9	2	0	7	8	2	1	5	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Slovakia	8	7	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	5	0	1	—	—	—	—	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	1	1	0	0	2	2	0	0
South Africa	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Spain	31	14	2	15	4	1	0	3	2	0	0	2	5	0	1	4	9	5	0	4	7	5	1	1	4	3	0	1	0	0	0	0
Turkey	8	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0	1	1	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	—	—	—	—	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
United States	27	17	0	10	6	2	0	4	6	5	0	1	5	3	0	2	10	7	0	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	0	0	0
Total (36)	384	245	16	124

• *includes games against  Serbia and Montenegro / FR Yugoslavia

Biggest Wins

double digit goal difference

Olympic Games	World Championship	World Cup	World League	European Championship	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. China (15-5) 2009 +10 vs. Russia (13-3) 2007 +10 vs. Canada (13-3) 2003	+21 vs. Iran (23-2) 2010 +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 +14 vs. Turkey (17-3) 2013 +13 vs. Spain (19-6) 2006 +10 vs. China (15-5) 2011 +10 vs. China (14-4) 2015 +10 vs. Turkey (13-3) 2015 +10 vs. Brasil (17-7) 2005	+24 vs. Austria (26-2) 1995 +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	+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 Loses

Olympic Games	World Championship	World Cup	World League	European Championship	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. Spain (2-7) 1995 -5 vs. Hungary (6-11) 1997 -5 vs. Russia (5-10) 1997	-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	-9 vs. Italy (5-14) 2005 -6 vs. Serbia (8-14) 2009

Notable players

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

Sources

• http://www.todor66.com/Water_Polo/
• http://pilkawodna21.w.interiowo.pl/archiwum.htm

References

1. 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.

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.

External links

• Official website