Men's World League: Group leaders conclude successfully European preliminaries

Lausanne (SUI), POLO AIR INDONESIA, March 30, 2013 – The teams of Montenegro and Hungary confirmed their qualification for the Super Final of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League 2013, by winning their games in the sixth and last round of the European preliminaries, organised on March 29-30.

In Group A, the Montenegrins, already leaders, received and beat at home (in Herceg Novi) the team of Turkey by 16-8. The Balkans completed the European prelims with a perfect series of six wins, while Turkey could not win any of the six matches contested. Croatia, the 2012 Olympic champion, had little consolation with a home triumph over Greece (5-4), as the second place in the group is not enough to get the ticket for the Super Final.

In Group B (only three teams), Serbia had already completed its four games and had qualified for the Super Final. In the remaining match of the sixth round, Spain defeated in Barcelona the squad of Germany by 11-6. 

Finally, in Group C, Hungary, also qualified for the decisive stage of the competition, to be held in Chelyabinsk (RUS) from June 11-16, 2013, received the host of the Super Final (Russia) and won by 8-6. In Bucharest, Romania could not overcome Italy, losing by 9-13.

The remaining four teams taking part in the Super Final will be chosen after the conclusion of the tournament in Americas (May 24-27, two teams to qualify) and in Asia-Oceania (May 9-14, two teams to qualify).

European Preliminaries (final rankings):
GROUP A: 1. MNE, 18 pts (6 wins); 2. CRO, 12 (4W, 2 losses); 3. GRE, 6 (2W, 4L); 4. TUR, 0 (56L)
GROUP B: 1. SRB, 12 pts (4W); 2. ESP, 5 (2W, 2L); 3. GER, 1 (4L)
GROUP C: 1. HUN, 18 pts (6W); 2. ITA, 10 (3W, 3L); 3. ROU, 5 (2W, 4L); 4. RUS, 3 (1W, 5L)

Teams qualified for the Super Final:
MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, HUNGARY and RUSSIA (as host)

Men's World League: Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary and Russia confirm presence in Super Final

Lausanne (SUI), POLO AIR INDONESIA - March 28, 2013 – The teams of Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary and Russia confirmed their presence in the Super Final of the competition, after the fifth and penultimate round of the European preliminaries, held in various cities on March 27, 2013.

In Group A, the Montenegrins travelled to Athens and defeated the home team of Greece by 9-8. It was the fifth win of Montenegro out of the five games contested so far. Despite a comfortable victory (20-1) against Turkey in Zadar, Croatia, the 2012 Olympic champion, is second of the group and cannot reach the lead, whatever the outcome will be in the sixth and final round of the preliminaries.

In Group B, Serbia increased its lead and is the virtual winner of the group, after beating Spain in Barcelona by 8-6. In a three-team group, the Balkan team finished with four victories in four matches, while the remaining game to be played in the sixth round – ESP-GER – will not have any impact on the final outcome.

Finally, in Group C, Hungary also confirmed its good shape, defeating Italy in Bari by 8-7. With this triumph, the Magyars definitively assumed the lead of the group, with five wins in five games. The second qualifier of this group is Russia (lost 8-12 against Romania), as host of the Super Final, to be held in Chelyabinsk from June 11-16, 2013.

The remaining four teams taking part in the Super Final will be chosen after the conclusion of the tournament in Americas (May 24-27, two teams to qualify) and in Asia-Oceania (May 9-14, two teams to qualify).

European Preliminaries (rankings after fifth round):
GROUP A: 1. MNE, 15 pts (5 wins); 2. CRO, 9 (3W, 2 losses); 3. GRE, 6 (2W, 3L); 4. TUR, 0 (5L)
GROUP B: 1. SRB, 12 pts (4W); 2. ESP, 2 (1W, 2L); 3. GER, 1 (3L)
GROUP C: 1. HUN, 15 pts (5W); 2. ITA, 7 (2W, 3L); 3. ROU, 5 (2W, 3L); 4. RUS, 3 (1W, 4L)

Sixth and final round:
Group A: CRO-GRE and MNE-TUR (March 30)
Group B: ESP-GER (March 30)
Group C: HUN-RUS (March 29) and ROU-ITA (March 30)