Croatia men's national water polo team

The Croatia men's national water polo team represents Croatia in international water polo competitions and is controlled by the Croatian Water Polo Federation. They have won gold medals in the Olympics, World and European Championships, FINA World League and Mediterranean Games, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world. Overall Croatia won 31 medals at competitions.

Croatia
FINA codeCRO
Nickname(s)Barakude
(The Barracudas)
AssociationCroatian Water Polo Federation
ConfederationLEN (Europe)
Head coachIvica Tucak
Asst coachJure Marelja
Renco Posinković
Most capsIgor Hinić (417)
Top scorer(s)Miho Bošković (369)
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current5 (as of 9 August 2021)
Highest1 (2012, 2013)
Lowest6 (2008)
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances6 (first in 1996)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2012)
5-time Olympian(s)Igor Hinić (1996–2012)
Most medalsPerica Bukić (3 medals, 2 gold and 1 silver)
Top scorer(s)Sandro Sukno (31 goals, 2012–2016)
Most savesFrano Vićan (123 saves, 2000–2012)
Top sprinter(s)Maro Joković (25 sprints won, 2008–2016)
Flag bearer(s)Perica Bukić (1996)
Dubravko Šimenc (2004)
Josip Pavić (2016)
World Championship
Appearances15 (first in 1994)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2007, 2017, 2024)
World Cup
Appearances7 (first in 1995)
Best result2nd place, silver medalist(s) (2010)
World League
Appearances9 (first in 2002)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2012)
European Championship
Appearances16 (first in 1993)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2010, 2022)
Europa Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2018)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances6 (first in 1993)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2013)
Media
Websitehvs.hr (in Croatian)
Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 2 0
World Championship 3 1 4
World Cup 0 1 1
World League 1 3 3
European Championship 2 3 1
Europa Cup 1 1 0
Mediterranean Games 1 1 1
Total 9 12 10
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Team
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta Team
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2007 Melbourne Team
Gold medal – first place 2017 Budapest Team
Gold medal – first place2024 DohaTeam
Silver medal – second place 2015 Kazan Team
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Rome Team
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Shanghai Team
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Barcelona Team
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Gwangju Team
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2010 Oradea
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Almaty
World League
Gold medal – first place 2012 Almaty
Silver medal – second place 2009 Podgorica
Silver medal – second place 2015 Bergamo
Silver medal – second place 2019 Belgrade
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Niš
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Florence
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Ruza
European Championship
Gold medal – first place 2010 Zagreb
Gold medal – first place 2022 Split
Silver medal – second place 1999 Florence
Silver medal – second place 2003 Kranj
Silver medal – second place 2024 Dubrovnik/Zagreb
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Barcelona
Europa Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Rijeka
Silver medal – second place 2019 Zagreb
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place 2013 Mersin
Silver medal – second place 1993 Languedoc-Roussillon
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Bari

It was the first Croatian national team to win a gold medal at the Olympics or World Games, the World and European Championships.

Croatia played their 800th game since gaining independence on 20 August 2022 and they won their 517th victory.[1]

History

After the independence of Croatia the national water polo team competed at its first tournament and also its first finals at 1993 Mediterranean Games, followed by the 1993 European Championships where Croatia won 5th place.

Croatia has since become Olympic champion (2012), triple World champion (2007, 2017), 2024) and European champion (2010). Croatia has also won eight other medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships and was fourth on six occasions. The team holds a record streak of winning 7 medals in a row at World Championships and has reached semi-finals in over 60% of appearances at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships altogether since 2017. Since the formation of national team Croatia has qualified for every big tournament. It is the first Croatian national team in any Olympic team sport that has won gold medals at all three big competitions. Croatia has also won World League (2012) and Mediterranean Games (2013). The only competition Croatia has yet to win is World Cup where the national team won silver medal in 2010.

The team has been awarded with Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport in 1996. So far two International Swimming Hall of Fame inductees have been members of Croatia national team – Perica Bukić as a player and Ratko Rudić as a coach.

Croatia played their 800 game since gaining independence on 20 August 2022. and they won their 517 victory which makes 64,62% of victories.[1]

Results

Medals

Updated after 2024 World Championships

Competition1st place, gold medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Total
Olympic Games 1203
World Championship 3148
World Cup 0112
World League 1337
European Championship 2316
Europa Cup 1102
Summer Universuade 0101
Mediterranean Games 1113
Total9131032

  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place  

Summer Olympics
Year[2] Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD
Spain 1992Couldn't participate in qualification
United States 1996Final2nd place, silver medalist(s)85037158+13
Australia 2000Quarterfinal7th85126856+12
Greece 2004Preliminary Round10th62044742+5
China 2008Quarterfinal6th74037149+22
United Kingdom 2012Final1st place, gold medalist(s)88007342+31
Brazil 2016Final2nd place, silver medalist(s)85036662+4
Japan 2020Quarterfinal5th85039982+17
France 2024Qualified
TotalQualified: 8/85737119553419+124

Record against other teams at the Summer Olympics
National team Pld W D L PF PA PD
Australia Australia22012925+4
China China1100164+12
Egypt Egypt1100121+11
Germany Germany1100135+8
Greece Greece33002516+9
Hungary Hungary21011617−1
Italy Italy54014535+10
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan22004015+25
Montenegro Montenegro31012620+6
Netherlands Netherlands1100117+4
Romania Romania1100116+5
Russia Russia100189−1
Serbia Serbia32013231+1
Serbia and Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro31112021−1
Spain Spain41033034−4
Ukraine Ukraine1100168+8
United States United States62044542+3
Total17 teams

World Championships

World Cup

World League

Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.
* marks instances of not qualifying for the super final due to "host rule".

Year[2] Round Position Pld W D L
Greece 2002did not qualify for the Super Final122010
United States 2003did not compete
United States 2004
Serbia and Montenegro 2005Group Round4th14806
Greece 2006 *did not qualify for the Super Final11704
Germany 20078305
Italy 2008 *6303
Montenegro 2009Final2nd place, silver medalist(s)12903
Serbia 2010Semi-final3rd place, bronze medalist(s)12804
Italy 2011Semi-final3rd place, bronze medalist(s)111001
Kazakhstan 2012Final1st place, gold medalist(s)101000
Russia 2013 *did not qualify for the Super Final6402
United Arab Emirates 20144103
Italy 2015Final2nd place, silver medalist(s)141202
China 2016did not qualify for the Super Final6402
Russia 2017Semi-final3rd place, bronze medalist(s)121002
Hungary 2018Quarterfinal5th10703
Serbia 2019Final2nd place, silver medalist(s)13904
Georgia (country) 2020did not qualify for the Super Final5203
France 20225302
TotalParticipated: 18/20
Qualified for the Super Final: 9/18		170112059

European Championships

Europa Cup
Year Round Position Pld W D L
Croatia 2018Final1st place, gold medalist(s)8701
Croatia 2019Final 2nd place, silver medalist(s)7502
TotalParticipated: 2/2
Qualified for the Super Final: 2/2		151203

Mediterranean Games
Year Round Position Pld W D L
France 1993Final2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Italy 1997Final2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Tunisia 2001Preliminary Round5th
Spain 2005Semi-final4th5203
Italy 2009Semi-final4th5302
Turkey 2013Final1st place, gold medalist(s)4400
Spain 2018did not participate
Algeria 2022
TotalParticipated: 6/814905

Team

Current squad

Roster for the 2024 World Championships.[4]

Head coach: Ivica Tucak

  • 1 Marko Bijač GK
  • 2 Rino Burić FP
  • 3 Loren Fatović FP
  • 4 Luka Lončar FP
  • 5 Franko Lazić FP
  • 6 Matias Biljaka FP
  • 7 Ante Vukičević FP
  • 8 Marko Žuvela FP
  • 9 Jerko Marinić Kragić FP
  • 10 Josip Vrlić FP
  • 11 Zvonimir Butić FP
  • 12 Konstantin Harkov FP
  • 13 Mate Anić GK
  • 14 Ivan Krapić FP
  • 15 Filip Kržić FP

Player statistics
Most appearances
Player Matches Position Active
on Nat'l Team?
Igor Hinić 417CNo
Tomislav Paškvalin 285CNo
Samir Barać 176PPNo
Andro Bušlje 167HGNo
Faris Okanovic 161No
Teo Đogaš 148PPNo
Frano Vićan 129GKNo
Elvis Fatović 128PPNo
Josip Pavić 120GKNo
Damir Burić 117HGNo
Miho Bošković 108PP, HGNo
Sandro Sukno 97PPNo
Petar Muslim 90PP, SCNo
Maro Joković 89PPNo
Nikša Dobud 83CNo
Vjekoslav Kobešćak 86PPNo
Ratko Štritof 80HGNo
Ivan Buljubašić 79HGNo
Paulo Obradović 68PP, HGNo
Zdeslav Vrdoljak 58PPNo
Anđelo Šetka 57PPNo
Dubravko Šimenc 52PPNo
Goran Volarević 52GKNo
Frano Karač 37PPNo
Tihomil Vranješ 35PPNo
Pavo Marković 33PPNo
Perica Bukić 30PPNo
Antonio Petković 22PPNo
Luka Lončar 20CYes
Top scorers
Name Goals Average Position
Miho Bošković 3693.42PP, HG
Paulo Obradović 197PP, HG
Maro Joković 158PP
Samir Barać 1350.77PP
Faris Okanovic 260.85PP
Igor Hinić 1130.27C
Petar Muslim 100PP, SC
Nikša Dobud 861.02C

Head coaches
  • Duško Antunović (1991–1993)
  • Bruno Silić (1993–1998)
  • Neven Kovačević (1998–2001)
  • Veselin Đuho (2002–2003)
  • Zoran Roje (2003–2005)
  • Ratko Rudić (2005–2012)
  • Ivica Tucak (2012–)

Notable players

Naturalized players

Andrey Belofastov (Ukraine), Xavier García (Spain)[5] Faris Okanovic (Sweden) Konstantin Kharkov (Russia)

Statistics

Record against other teams

As of 11 September 2022

NO FRIENDLY fixtures.

Key
Positive total balance (more wins)
Neutral total balance (equal W/L ratio)
Negative total balance (more losses)

Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.

National team Total Olympic Games World Championship World Cup World League European Championship Europa Cup Mediterranean Games Qualifications
Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L Pld W D L
Australia Australia 211605 3202 7601 2101 8701 ———— ———— ———— 0000
Austria Austria 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 0000 ———— 0000
Belarus Belarus 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ———— 1100
Brazil Brazil 8701 1100 4400 0000 3201 ———— ———— ———— 0000
Canada Canada 7700 0000 5500 0000 1100 ———— ———— ———— 1100
China China 6600 1100 2200 1100 2200 ———— ———— ———— 0000
Egypt Egypt 1100 1100 0000 0000 0000 ———— ———— 0000 0000
France France 111001 1001 0000 0000 4400 4400 1100 0000 1100
Georgia (country) Georgia 3300 0000 1100 0000 0000 1100 0000 ———— 1100
Germany Germany 272124 1100 3201 0000 121101 9522 0000 ———— 2200
United Kingdom Great Britain 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ———— 1100
Greece Greece 4024610 3201 5113 2110 14905 12840 2101 2200 0000
Hungary Hungary 3810226 3201 8413 3003 11308 132110 0000 ———— 0000
Iran Iran 1100 0000 0000 1100 0000 ———— ———— ———— 0000
Italy Italy 4324217 6501 5212 2002 14806 12714 0000 3102 1100
Japan Japan 6600 0000 4400 0000 2200 ———— ———— ———— 0000
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 111100 4400 2200 1100 4400 ———— ———— ———— 0000
North Macedonia Macedonia 4400 0000 0000 0000 4400 0000 0000 0000 0000
Malta Malta 3300 0000 0000 0000 0000 2200 1100 0000 0000
Moldova Moldova 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ———— 1100
Montenegro Montenegro 281909 7601 3300 1100 9306 6402 1100 0000 1100
Netherlands Netherlands 141400 1100 2200 1100 4400 5500 1100 ———— 0000
New Zealand New Zealand 3300 0000 3300 0000 0000 ———— ———— ———— 0000
Poland Poland 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ———— 1100
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 ———— ———— ———— 1100
Romania Romania 171403 1100 3300 1100 4301 4202 1100 ———— 3300
Russia Russia 3523111 1100 7403 2101 181305 6411 0000 ———— 1001
Serbia Serbia * 4616426 7412 7313 7214 11209 9216 3300 2002 0000
Slovakia Slovakia 9801 0000 1100 0000 0000 7601 0000 ———— 1100
Slovenia Slovenia 6600 0000 0000 0000 0000 3300 0000 1100 2200
South Africa South Africa 5500 0000 2200 1100 2200 ———— ———— ———— 0000
Spain Spain 3917220 6105 4004 5014 11605 7511 2200 4301 0000
Turkey Turkey 101000 0000 0000 0000 6600 2200 0000 2200 0000
Switzerland Switzerland 1100 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ———— 1100
Ukraine Ukraine 4400 1100 0000 0000 0000 3300 0000 ———— 0000
United States United States 3625011 8404 8701 7502 13904 ———— ———— ———— 0000
Total (36) 48932519145

* includes games against  Serbia and Montenegro / FR Yugoslavia

Biggest wins

double digit goal difference

Olympic Games World Championship World Cup World League European Championship Europa Cup Mediterranean Games Qualifications
  • +12 vs. China (16–4) 2008
  • +11 vs. Egypt (12–1) 2004
  • +34 vs. New Zealand (35–1) 1994
  • +19 vs. South Africa (19–0) 2013
  • +17 vs. New Zealand (21–4) 2013
  • +16 vs. New Zealand (19–3) 1998
  • +15 vs. Canada (19–4) 2005
  • +15 vs. Kazakhstan (19–4) 1998
  • +11 vs. Brasil (17–6) 1998
  • +11 vs. Japan (18–7) 2011
  • +10 vs. Canada (13–3) 2003
  • +10 vs. China (15–5) 2009
  • +10 vs. Japan (16–6) 2017
  • +10 vs. Russia (13–3) 2007
  • +23 vs. South Africa (25–2) 2018
  • +21 vs. Iran (23–2) 2010
  • +13 vs. South Africa (16–3) 2018
  • +10 vs. China (14–4) 2010
  • +21 vs. South Africa (22–1) 2010
  • +19 vs. Turkey (20–1) 2013
  • +17 vs. Brasil (20–3) 2012
  • +16 vs. Kazakhstan (20–4) 2019
  • +16 vs. Kazakhstan (19–3) 2017
  • +14 vs. Turkey (17–3) 2013
  • +13 vs. Spain (19–6) 2006
  • +13 vs. Turkey (19–6) 2016
  • +13 vs. Turkey (16–3) 2016
  • +11 vs. Netherlands (18–7) 2017
  • +10 vs. Brasil (17–7) 2005
  • +10 vs. China (15–5) 2011
  • +10 vs. China (14–4) 2015
  • +10 vs. France (16–6) 2017
  • +10 vs. Kazakhstan (15–5) 2018
  • +10 vs. Netherlands (17–7) 2017
  • +10 vs. Russia (14–4) 2018
  • +10 vs. Turkey (13–3) 2015
  • +24 vs. Austria (26–2) 1995
  • +21 vs. Turkey (23–2) 2018
  • +20 vs. Malta (22–2) 2016
  • +15 vs. France (20–5) 2016
  • +13 vs. Turkey (16–3) 2010
  • +12 vs. Netherlands (16–4) 2012
  • +11 vs. Slovenia (19–8) 2006
  • +10 vs. Slovakia (15–5) 2008
  • +15 vs. France (20–5) 2018
  • +12 vs. Netherlands (16–4) 2018
  • +11 vs. Malta (16–5) 2018
  • +13 vs. Turkey (17–4) 2013
  • +11 vs. Greece (14–3) 2009
  • +20 vs. Georgia (23–3) 1999
  • +17 vs. Puerto Rico (18–1) 2004
  • +12 vs. Romania (12–0) 2004

Biggest losses
Olympic Games World Championship World Cup World League European Championship Europa Cup Mediterranean Games
  • -4 vs. Serbia (7–11) 2016
  • -4 vs. Italy (7–11) 2004
  • -7 vs. Serbia (4–11) 2015
  • -6 vs. Hungary (4–10) 2005
  • -5 vs. Spain (6–11) 1994
  • -6 vs. Serbia (7–13) 2010
  • -5 vs. Hungary (6–11) 1997
  • -5 vs. Russia (5–10) 1997
  • -5 vs. Spain (2–7) 1995
  • -9 vs. Hungary (6–15) 2007
  • -8 vs. Greece (5–13) 2008
  • -7 vs. Brasil (10–17) 2015
  • -7 vs. Serbia (6–13) 2016
  • -6 vs. Hungary (5–11) 1995
  • -5 vs. Hungary (11–16) 2006
  • -9 vs. Italy (5–14) 2005
  • -6 vs. Serbia (8–14) 2009

Non-senior competitions

Awards
  • Croatian team of the year: 1999, 2017, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017

See also
  • Croatia men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
  • Yugoslavia men's national water polo team
  • List of Olympic champions in men's water polo
  • List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics
  • List of world champions in men's water polo

Notes
  1. FINA Water Polo Player of the Year in 1982, 1984 and 1985. Scored 28 goals in one game which is a world record for water polo game (final score: Yugoslavia 62–0 Guatemala). First water polo player in history to sign a 6 digit contract.

References
  1. "Pobjeda u jubilarnoj 800. utakmici Barakuda: Hrvatska trijumfom nad Francuzima otvorila turnir u Beogradu". sportske.jutarnji.hr. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 4, 14, 25, 40, 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  3. Qualification for the tournament was determined by placing in the 1992 Olympics tournament. Since the Croatian team couldn't had participated in the 1992 Olympic water polo tournament due to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, it couldn't qualify for the 1993 World Cup.
  4. "21st World Aquatics World Championships Men's Water Polo Team Roster CRO" (PDF). Omega Timing. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  5. "Stigla potvrda iz MOO-a: Javier Garcia s Hrvatskom na Olimpijskim igrama u Riju".
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