Italian
The women’s water polo national team loses 12-2 to the Netherlands but is already certain to participate in the World Cup Super Finals in July
ROTTERDAM (NETHERLANDS) – A meaningless but still heavy defeat in terms of the result. The Setterosa was already certain of qualifying for the Super Final thanks to their victory in the preliminary round of the World Cup against The Netherlands by 12-10. However, in the second match of the 1st-4th place group, the Oranje takes their revenge.
The home team dominates the match right from the start with a four-goal break. After fourteen minutes, the first blue highlight with Cocchiere for 5-1 at the end of the first half. In the second half, the European champions in Funchal advance further to 11-1 thanks also to the hat-tricks of the player from Rome Schaap and Moolhuijzen.
In the end, the second Italian goal with captain Bianconi in numerical superiority. Then Lieke Rogge seals the deal at 12-2. Now the women’s water polo national team will conclude Division I tonight at 8:15 PM against the United States.
The matches are streamed on a paid basis on the Recast platform.
The statements
These are the words of the Settebello coach Maurizio Mirarchi:
“We faced a very motivated team and also one that is much fitter than us. This is not an excuse because we also need to work on fatigue, never give up. We still have a lot to grow to reach certain levels. We have received a harsh lesson and I think it will do us good. We need to reset and start again immediately for tomorrow’s even tougher challenge against the United States. We start from a good foundation and we need to analyze this defeat to grow“.
The scorecard
NETHERLANDS-ITALY 12-2
NETHERLANDS: L. Aarts, S. Van de Kraats 1, M. Schaap 3, M. Keuning, F. Bosveld 1, B. Rogge, V. Sevenich, K. Joustra 1, L. Rogge 2, L. Moolhuijzen 3 (1 penalty), N. Ten Broek, B. Van den Dobbelsteen, R. Jutte, P. Gorter 1. Coach: Doudesis
ITALY: A. Condorelli, C. Tabani, M. Leone, G. Klatowski, V. Gant, L. Cergol, S. Giustini, R. Bianconi 1, D. Bettini, C. Ranalli, A. Cocchiere 1, G. Gagliardi, O. Sesena, L. Papi. Coach: Mirarchi
Referees: Bouchez (FRA) and Daskalopoulou (GRE)
Notes: partial scores 3-0, 2-1, 2-0, 5-1. No player was sent off for fouls. Power plays: Netherlands 3/8 + 3 penalties and Italy 1/7 + one penalty. Aarts (N) saves a penalty from Ranalli in the first half. Van de Kraats (N) misses a penalty (off target) in the second half. In the stands for Italy were Cabona and Malluzzo.
The format
Qualified for the final phase of the World Cup scheduled in Sydney, Australia, from July 22 to 26 are the top two teams from groups A and B, namely Spain, United States, Netherlands, and Italy. Despite the qualification, the tournament continues in a second grouping to determine the positions from 1st to 4th place, which is crucial for the composition of the quarter-final draw.
The third and fourth placed teams have instead joined another group that offers the fifth and final spot for the Final Eight. The sixth and seventh participating nations have come from Division 2 held in Malta, with Russia and China securing their spots, while Australia is already qualified by right as the host country. A placement of the Oceanic teams among the top five in Division I would free up a slot for the sixth-placed team in the Rotterdam tournament.
World Cup 2026 – Division I
SECOND PHASE
Group 1st-4th place: United States 6, Netherlands 3, Spain 3, Italy 0
Group 5th-8th place: Australia 6, Greece 3, Hungary 3, Japan 0
Monday, May 4
5th-8th Place Group
Hungary-Greece 9-14 (2-1, 2-3, 3-4, 2-6)
Australia-Japan 22-10 (7-3, 6-3, 5-3, 4-1) – officiated by Ferrari
1st-4th Place Group
Netherlands-United States 10-12 (2-1, 2-5, 4-3, 2-3)
Spain-Italy 14-12 (3-3, 3-3, 5-3, 3-3)
Tuesday, May 5
5th-8th Place Group
Australia-Greece 17-6 (8-1, 4-3, 2-2, 3-0)
Hungary-Japan 28-13 (6-1, 7-6, 8-1, 7-5)
Group 1st-4th place
Netherlands-Italy 12-2 (3-0, 2-1, 2-0, 5-1)
Spain-United States 5-7 (2-0, 1-2, 2-2, 0-3)
Wednesday, May 6
5th-8th Place Group
14:00 Hungary-Australia
15:45 Japan-Greece
Group 1st-4th place
18:30 Spain-Netherlands
20:15 Italy-United States
FIRST STAGE
Group A: Spain 8, United States 7, Hungary 3, Japan 0
Group B: Netherlands 6, Italy 5, Australia 4, Greece 3
Photo Aniko Kovacs / World Aquatics
