Greek women into Euro final
The women’s national water polo team made history yesterday by reaching the final of the European Championship with its impressive 10-5 win over Italy in the semifinal in Zagreb, Croatia. This is the first time a Greek team – women or men – has reached the final of a European Water Polo Championship, so the Greek women’s squad has confirmed its status as a leading force at the club and international level on the continent. Going into the semifinals as the favorites, coach Giorgos Morfesis’s players ran away with the game in the second period when they took a five-goal lead (6-1), with the score reaching 7-2 at halftime. This was due to an excellent scoring rate of over 50 percent and an ultra-tight defense that had the Italians’ attack in a stranglehold. A more conservative game in the second half saw the Greeks hold on to their lead, as, most of the time, the Italians could not get past goalkeeper Maria Tsouri. Eventually Greece triumphed with ease and will be facing Russia or the Netherlands in tomorrow’s final, having secured Greece’s first ever European medal in women’s water polo. Greek clubs Vouliagmeni and Ethnikos are the holders of both main European club trophies.
