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 by rallying in the second half. Key scorers for Israel included Maya Tirosh with four goals, Teva Dorfman with three, Carmel Rahum with two, and Maya Katzir, Yuval Raz, and Shir Weisman each scoring once.

Israel is set to face a significant challenge today against Spain, the reigning European champions who have maintained a perfect record in the group stage. Greek coach Orestis Salachas expressed pride in his team's performance, highlighting their heart, passion, and determination to compete at the highest level. He stated, "When I see my team playing with such intensity and resolve, I am not afraid of any opponent."