Israel Under-20 Women’s Water Polo Team Falls to Italy at European Championship

The Israeli under-20 women's water polo team suffered their second defeat at the European Championship in Portugal, losing 17-12 to Italy, one of the continent's top teams in this age group. Unlike their previous match against Greece, Israel started slowly, trailing 4-1 after the first quarter and 6-2 at halftime, but showed resilience with a stronger second half.

Scorers for Israel included Maya Tirosh with four goals, Tiva Dorfman with three, Carmel Rahum with two, and Maya Katzir, Yuval Raz, and Shir Weisman each contributing one goal. The team faces a significant challenge next, playing against reigning European champions Spain, who remain undefeated in the group stage.

Greek coach Orestis Slatsas praised his team’s performance, highlighting their heart, passion, and determination to win until the final moment. He expressed pride in the team’s strength and resolve, stating he fears no opponent when seeing his players compete with such intensity.