The Greek Men’s National Water Polo Team has made history, claiming its first-ever medal at the European Championships after a commanding 12–5 victory over Italy in the bronze medal match on Sunday.
Coached by Thodoris Vlachos, Greece produced a dominant performance, combining disciplined defence with clinical finishing to secure a long-awaited place on the European podium after 22 previous appearances at the tournament.
The bronze medal match marked Greece’s second victory over Italy in the competition, having already defeated the Italians earlier in the championship. This time, however, the stakes were higher — and Greece rose emphatically to the occasion.
Greece set the tone early, surging to a 4–0 lead in the opening quarter and extending its advantage to 7–2 by halftime, effectively putting the contest beyond doubt. With Italy struggling to break through Greece’s defensive structure, the second half became a controlled display as the Greek side managed the game with composure and confidence.
Stelios Argyropoulos led the scoring for Greece with four goals, continuing his standout tournament performance. Goalkeeper Emmanouil Zerdevas was instrumental between the posts, delivering a series of crucial saves that blunted Italy’s attacking efforts and reinforced Greece’s dominance.
The victory came two days after Greece’s semi-final defeat to Hungary, making the response in the bronze medal match all the more significant and reflective of the team’s resilience and maturity.
The historic achievement was met with praise from Greece’s political leadership, with messages of congratulations issued by Konstantinos Tasoulas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, acknowledging the players and coaching staff for their landmark success.
The medal adds another important chapter to Greece’s proud water polo tradition and underscores the national team’s growing consistency at the highest levels of European and international competition.
