Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Water Polo World Championship match.
Two of the top national squads — Croatia and Greece — will clash in their third group match, with the top spot in the standings on the line.
Greece
Greece currently sit fourth in the world rankings but have already produced a setback at the World Championship. They lost their opening match to Montenegro (9:10), though responded in style with a commanding victory over China (26:5). Last year, Greece finished fifth at the World Championship, having previously claimed silver in 2023 and bronze in 2022. The Greeks have consistently challenged top-tier opponents and, in the past year, have registered wins over Spain, Serbia, and Hungary — all ranked within the global top five.
Croatia
Croatia justifiably occupy the number one spot in the world rankings. At this tournament, they began with a routine win against China (25:6), followed by a hard-fought victory over Montenegro (13:11). The Croats are aiming to secure back-to-back titles, having lost only to Spain in the previous edition, where they recorded a goal difference of +44. Croatia have won 10 of their 13 encounters with Greece, though only three of those triumphs came by more than two goals.
Greece vs Croatia Prediction
Croatia are considered contenders not only for this fixture but for the tournament as a whole. However, Greece are expected to offer firm resistance, and if they are to be beaten, it is likely to be by a narrow margin.
