The Greek women’s team prevailed 11-4 against France on Sunday, August 4 in a water polo match that ended the first phase of the competition at the Paris Olympics.
Although Greece‘s national team started very concentrated in defence and took a 2-0 lead, France’s goalkeeper Mia Rycraw made some great interventions. The home team found solutions at some point and with a 3-0 run went ahead (3-2), with the Greek team remaining without a goal for 11 minutes.
Greece missed a penalty which was saved by Rycraw and wasted four chances, before Eleni Xenaki found a solution with a boyish goal from 2 metres to make it 3-3 at halftime.
🤽♀️Η εθνική ομάδα πέτυχε την πρώτη νίκη στο Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες του Παρισιού, επικρατώντας της Γαλλίας με 11-4 και θα είναι στα προημιτελικά, όπου θα αντιμετωπίσει την Αυσττραλία!
— Ηellenic Olympic Committee (@HellenicOlympic) August 4, 2024
💪Συγχαρητήρια κορίτσια!#TeamHellas #waterpolo #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/7O0dFQNjSl
The overall Greek streak reached 4-0 and the representative group led 6-3, before France’s Ema Vernoux reduced it with a penalty in the last minute of the third period.
Two quick goals from Vasiliki Plevritou and Xenaki, at the beginning of the fourth period, practically “locked” the victory of the national team. The score reached 11-4 and the Greek team had a chance to reach +8 points, which would have given them third place.
As it turned out however, this was not the desired scenario, since it would have brought the Greek team up against the consistently very strong Netherlands.
Greece will next face Australia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, August 7 at 3.00am (Australian time).
Source: Zougla.
