Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Water Polo World Championship match.
Croatia are virtually out of the running for a play-off place and now face group leaders, Hungary, who have convincingly beaten both Greece and Japan in their opening fixtures.
Croatia (women)
Currently ranked 16th in the world, Croatia have struggled to make an impression at this year’s Water Polo World Championship. They have suffered heavy defeats in both group matches so far—a 12:25 loss to Japan, followed by a 7:31 defeat against Greece. Previous encounters against Hungary have been similarly one-sided, with three losses and a combined goal difference of 14:64. Croatia have not been regular participants at World Championships, focusing more on European competition, where their best result to date is an eighth-place finish, achieved last year.
Hungary (women)
Hungary are ranked inside the global top four, though they have shown inconsistency at major tournaments. Since 2015, their standout performances include a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a silver medal at the 2022 Water Polo World Championship. Over their last 11 matches, the team has lost only twice—both times to Greece, currently ranked fifth in the world. They have won all other fixtures, including victories over elite teams such as Spain and the USA.
Croatia (women) vs Hungary (women) Prediction
Hungary are widely expected to secure a routine win in their third match of the group stage. A result similar to their 33:13 triumph over Japan is anticipated, as Croatia appear unlikely to offer significant resistance. Another heavy defeat looks inevitable.
