Israeli Water Polo Team Secures European Championship Spot Despite Loss to Georgia

The Israeli water polo team has successfully qualified for the European Championship for the third consecutive time after a series of victories against Switzerland and Bulgaria. However, their journey took a setback today, as they suffered a 19-9 defeat to host nation Georgia in the qualifying tournament.

Match Summary

Following their earlier successes, the Israeli team faced Georgia, who finished at the top of their group. The match took place on Wednesday, with Israel concluding the group stage in second place. They will participate in the European Championship scheduled for January 2026 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Game Breakdown

The first quarter of the match was tightly contested, ending with Georgia leading 4-2. Israeli player Tomer Erzi made a notable contribution by scoring two goals. The second quarter mirrored the first, with both teams netting two additional goals. At halftime, the score stood at 8-4 in favor of Georgia.

As the match progressed, Georgia continued to dominate, extending their lead to six goals by the end of the third quarter, finishing with a score of 12-6. The final quarter allowed Georgia to further solidify their advantage, and the match concluded with a score of 19-9.

Key Players

For Israel, Tomer Erzi was a standout, scoring three goals. Other contributors included Or Shalein with two goals, and single goals from Gil Gabishi, Amir Shprir, Roni Gross, and Idan Goldschmidt.

Despite the loss, the qualification for the European Championship highlights the team’s growth and resilience on the international stage. The upcoming competition in Belgrade will serve as a crucial opportunity for them to showcase their talent against some of Europe’s best teams