Israeli Girls' Water Polo Team Moves to 9-16 Placement Matches After Loss to Netherlands

The Israeli girls' under-16 water polo team suffered their second defeat at the World Championship in Zagreb, losing 10-4 to the Netherlands on Tuesday. Despite the loss, Israel competed with determination against one of the world's top teams, trailing 2-1 after the first quarter and 6-2 at halftime. Standout players included Uri Grodman, who scored two goals, and Yahli Rokach and Shani Yakubovich, who each added one goal.

Coach Idan Kaftori praised the team for their impressive fighting spirit, stating, "The players deserve a lot of credit for a very impressive battle. Our goal was to appear as equals despite facing a very strong team, and for most of the game, we managed to maintain that. I am proud of the girls." He emphasized the importance of building the players for the future and noted the team's progress throughout the tournament.

Following this loss, Israel will compete in the knockout stage for places 9 through 16, awaiting their next opponent among the teams that finished the initial phase in those positions. The team aims to rebound and secure a victory in their upcoming match.