World champion Greece had to compromise with a bronze medal at women’s water polo Europeans in Portugal, with a campaign that was almost identical to that of the men’s championship last month.

The players of coach Haris Pavlidis grabbed the last place on the podium on Thursday thanks to their easy 15-8 win against Italy in the bronze-medal match at Funchal.

Unlike the men’s team, which won their first European medal in Belgrade last month, this was the sixth medal for Greek women.

Greece had a perfect run in the group stage in Portugal, with five wins out of five, but just like the men’s team it succumbed to Hungary in the semifinal – going down in the shootout, in heartbreaking fashion, on Tuesday.

On Thursday Italy was unable to match the Greeks, who will return home with a medal as well as the still unfulfilled dream of a European title.

Source: Ekathimerini.com