Spain finds consolation in the European bronze won bravely from Italy

The Spanish men's water polo team continues to win medals.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
10 September 2022 Saturday 12:34
14 Reads
Spain finds consolation in the European bronze won bravely from Italy

The Spanish men's water polo team continues to win medals. After the setback of the lost semifinal against Hungary, David Martín's men found consolation in the bronze won bravely against the always difficult Italy 7-6; the same rival they won world gold just two months ago. The bronze of the European Split is the fifth medal of the Spanish in the last six major tournaments, since 2018.

Spain got off to a good start, with a goal from Martin Famera (1-0) at minute and a half with a good triangulation 'made in Barceloneta' between Larumbe, Perrone and the Slovenian, who finished off the near post as a pigeon. The advantage was short-lived, as Italy equalized from a penalty with Dolce's goal 17 seconds later. But the good success in attack led him to take an advantage of 2 (3-1) with two goals from Bustos and Barroso taking advantage of the superiorities.

In the second quarter, Spain seemed to control the game well with a good defense that stopped Italian attacks or forced continuous losses. However, Italy is always alive. Luca Damonte closed the gap (3-2) with a Vaseline that nailed Unai Aguirre, and with 49 seconds to go before the break Giacomo Cannella equalized (3-3) with a missile that the Barcelona goalkeeper did not smell. In two flashes, two goals and a tied duel.

After the break, Spain increased their defensive intensity, blocked better, and took the lead again with a great goal from Marc Larumbe, almost without an angle (4-3) in superiority. Unai Aguirre avoided the tie in the Italian reply with his sixth save and David Martín asked for time to reorganize his team and prepare the attack. The play went perfectly for him, since he moved the ball well and Granados scored the 5-3 by tapping close to the far post.

Aguirre stopped again (7 out of 10), this time Fondelli with a providential hand, and kept the Spanish advantage. The exchange of blows favored Martín's men. Damonte, with a powerful shot, approached Italy (5-4), but Sanahuja replied with another cannon shot (6-4), while Aguirre continued to stop and embitter the Italians with his 10/14 (71%). So Spain closed the third quarter with a 3-1 to face the last eight minutes with 2.

In the last round, the Italian team began closing the gap with a penalty goal by Di Fulvio (6-5). Spain had 7 minutes ahead of suffering to tie the bronze. Roger Tahull wasted the 7-5 with three shots in a row, one hitting the post and two saved by Del Lungo, and in the next attack Bruni made it 6-6.

Each attack was gold in the remaining 6 minutes. In the moments of truth, when taking responsibility, the figure of Felipe Perrone emerged to score the 7-6 with a powerful shot in central position. There were 3m19s left. In the following attack, the referees did not want to see a penalty against Munárriz or the fists that the Italians took out for a walk. Spain recovered the ball with a good defense but wasted the last attack with 54 seconds left. The last Spanish attack, with a shot by Di Fulvio, was blocked by Sanahuja with his chest and Martín's men took the bronze.

Spain: Aguirre, Munarriz, Granados, Sanahuja, De Toro, Larumbe, Famera, Cabanas, Tahull, Perrone, Muddy, Bustos, Lorrio. ps).

Italy: Del Lungo, Di Fulvio (1p), Damonte (2), Iocchi Scratch, Fondelli, Cinnamon (1), Renzuto Iodice, Presciutti, Bruni (1), Alesiani, Dolce (1p), Nicosia (ps).

Quarters: 3-1, 0-2, 3-1, 1-2.