Game ends with 44 personal fouls called. Yuck.
I had it on silent as I worked, and only checked in occasionally. How many of those fouls resulted in VAR review?
Almost half of the entire goals in the game are penalties (for Spain 7/17 and Croatia 4/9)…
I can’t remember where, but I recently saw a clip with an interview of Tony Azevedo, whose opinion was that all the rule changes intended to reduce physicality have actually resulted in a much more physical game. I have to think that in a game with 44 major fouls, a bunch of players were fouled out by the end of the game? I’m going to see if I can find a score sheet.
https://total-waterpolo.com/tw_match/13181
Here you go. One player with 4 exclusions 
(Press ‘star list’)
Thanks! I actually found it here, too while you were typing. European Aquatics Water Polo Championships 2025results There were indeed 44 major fouls–22 for each team. (Yay, parity! Refs must be fair!) Three Croats and 4 Spaniards fouled out.
Edited to add: I’m guessing Biljaka’s 4th major was doing something dumb on his way out of the pool after getting his 3rd? By that point the game was a lost cause so he wouldn’t have had much to lose.
The center position has changed so much. Basically there are off ball kickouts most of the time and if the ball does manage to get into the set there is either a kickout, a turnover, or maybe a turn (5M 100% of the time). A shot from center is super rare.
Therfore the center D position has changed dramatically also. Essentially its a game of who can stay in the game and/or spread out the fouls as much as possible.
So, the 6-5 offense and 5 Man defense is often the winning stat of the game as much as the turnover ratio is in NFL partly due to smaller pool and shorter clock perhaps, but also a change in the way the game is ref’d.
When was the last time you saw a 6-6 drive for a goal? A: Since Manel Estiarte played ;)?
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An ordinary foul at center is even rarer than a shot. I remember playing in and teaching an offense that was primarily based on drives after ordinary fouls at center. That would have been 1982-1995 or so. I don’t know whether the biggest drive of this change is changes to the rules, or the fact that defenses are now willing to take an exclusion at center rather than play for an ordinary foul and risk a shot. I suspect changes in defensive strategy are the bigger factor, but both contribute.
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My absolute favorite type of goal is a natural one out of set. They are always dramatic and exciting. I don’t think the role of the center has changed as much as indicated- if anything the position is even more important. A good center should be able to hold a side and be a scoring threat. If they are, then they are able to draw attention and open shooting lanes. The greek center is a perfect example. He doesn’t just work for a kick out- he is a threat to score, so they are always dropping back on him, leaving some shooters with space to score. Teams learn very quickly if a center is never going to attempt to shoot and they will stop dropping on him- if that happens, it makes everything harder for the shooters. Having a strong set who can score, hold a side and draw kickouts is key to winning and the position is highly valuable.
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Hungary takes down Greece. I do feel Greece’s lack of a lefty hurt them on 6-5. Good to see Papa (Cal) out there, amazingly versatile player!
Agree 100% that centers are still important. But they are mostly important now for drawing exclusions and penalties, much less so for scoring–though they do need to be a scoring threat. What they are not any longer is passers who get a lot of assists. It would be interesting to see stats on passes into center and what happens. I’m guessing that turnover and exclusion are mostly likely, with natural goal way down the list, ordinary fouls much less so, and assists almost non-existent.
Jaksic suspension overturned… pretty bad call to begin with. Should be an awesome final between a young Hungary team and a veteran Serbia.
Prediction: Mandic goes for 4-5 goals, Manhercz goes for 3-4. Serbia wins at home and continues the unexpected generational streak of being pure winners. For Hungary I’m excited about the future. For Serbia I’m nervous about the future. Nonetheless the vets on Serbia get it done.
The Rest: Netherlands made a statement. Playing close to Hungary and Serbia is no small feat. Croatia and (especially) Montenegro need to figure it out. Montenegro hasn’t been competitive in a couple years since their vet group aged out. They have been a free win in every important game when playing the other eastern Euros.
Give me a Serbian win at home. Mandic MVP. The guys is unguardable.
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I guess I have to stick with my predictions….
My predictions - Spain 5th. Hungary defeating Greece and Serbia defeating Italy for a rematch in final. Hungary vs Serbia with Hungary winning this time. And Greece taking bronze over Italy.
And yeah, Mandic continues to just dominate. The addition of shot from outside 6 from a foul was simply made for him. You almost need to foul him twice and take a kickout to better ur chances or move another blocker(s) over and give the shot to someone else.
Pretty sure that’s Denes Varga as the color commentator on the Greece-Italy semi. Whoever it is, he’s very good and has had some absolutely cutting comments. Referred to the Italian goalie as suffering from “concrete hands.”
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Indeed it is and he has done a few games. My bet he returns to play for LAAC also this year for some games and maybe we get him to do some commentating also in Nat league!
“Biting under water sounds kind of weird”…
Varga → “Not if your Italian” ! LOL
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He just said he’d be back with a pre-final show, so tune in. 1:30 Eastern. Mediacard - Aquatics | EVS_260125_20260110LENBelgrade_33_event | Eurovision Sport And I assume doing the Hungary-Serbia match as well, though that’s sort of like having David Ortiz call the Red Sox in the World Series.
Halfway through the first and I think there’s been 7 exclusions.
At half, 17 exclusions, 1 penalty, and a double exclusion, for a total of 20 major fouls.
Interesting stat from the final: Serbia did not score one action goal.
Nevertheless, stellar defense by the Serbs- especially in the set.
Mandic is inevitable. What a player!
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