The Trebinje Cup kicked off with a thrilling display of water polo prowess, as Italy and Greece emerged victorious in their respective matches against Spain and France. The tournament, a three-day affair in Trebinje, features several medal contenders for the upcoming European Championships in Belgrade, scheduled for January 10-25. Among the participants are Serbia and Hungary, while the favorites, Croatia and Montenegro, are notably absent, training together in Budva.
In Group A, Italy and Spain engaged in a nail-biting contest, with the score tied at 7:7 at halftime. The third period saw Italy take the lead, 12:11, but Spain fought back, leading 15:14 from the 31st minute until the final seconds. With time ticking away, Italy's Matteo Iocchi Gratta scored a game-tying goal in the last second, forcing an exclusion and securing a penalty shootout. Italy's goalkeeper, Marco Del Lungo, showcased his skills, saving three shots, while Spain's Edoardo Lorrio made one save, ultimately leading Italy to a 18:16 victory.
Alvaro Granados, the 2025 Total Player Award winner, scored eight goals for Spain, but it wasn't enough. Italy's top scorers, Edoardo Di Somma, Vincenzo Dolce, and Alessandro Carnesechi, each contributed three goals. In Group B, Greece and France battled fiercely, with Greece trailing for most of the match. Despite trailing, Greece'sAlexandros Papanastasiou and Konstantinos Gkiouvetsis led the team with four goals each, while France's Alexandre Bouet and Steven Vitrant were the top scorers with five goals each. Greece ultimately prevailed, 17:16, in a thrilling comeback.
The second round of matches in Trebinje will take place this evening, with Italy facing Serbia and Greece taking on Hungary. The third round is scheduled for Sunday, and the final standings matches are set for Monday. The Trebinje Cup 2026 promises to be a highly competitive tournament, with the top teams battling for glory.
