Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Water Polo World Championship match.
The fairytale run has come to an end for both squads. The United States and Spain entered their semi-finals as favourites, but both were upset and will now contest the third-place play-off at the World Championships.
USA (women)
The United States delivered a composed performance en route to the semi-finals. Only their clash with the Netherlands posed a significant challenge, which they overcame (11:9). However, their title hopes were dashed in the semi-finals by Greece, who outscored them 5:2 in the final quarter to secure a 14:10 win. Historically, the Americans have dominated this fixture, winning 17 of their 21 prior meetings with Spain, including a victory at the previous World Championships.
Spain (women)
Spain were dominant in the group stage but struggled in the knockout phase. They narrowly advanced past the Netherlands in the quarter-finals via a penalty shootout (15:13). However, they suffered a heavy 15:9 defeat to Hungary in the semi-finals, with the contest effectively decided by half-time, as the Hungarians built an 11:4 advantage. Although Spain trail the United States in the overall head-to-head, the Spaniards have claimed victory in the last two encounters.
USA (women) vs Spain (women) Prediction
This bronze-medal clash features two of the sport’s top-tier squads and is expected to be a tightly fought contest. While Spain enter as narrow favourites, the United States are well-positioned to keep the scoreline close and stay within the margin.
