Greece delivered a commanding performance to secure the bronze medal at the 2025 World Men’s Water Polo Championships in Singapore, overwhelming Olympic champions Serbia with a resounding 16–7 victory.
Greece demolishes Serbia to claim world championship bronze, marking one of Serbia’s most lopsided defeats in major tournament history — and a moment of redemption for a Greek side that continues its rise among the sport’s elite.
With this result, Greece not only avenges painful past losses to Serbia — including the bronze medal match at the 2017 Worlds and the Olympic final in Tokyo — but also confirms its status as one of the most consistent powerhouses in international water polo. This is Greece’s third consecutive medal at the World Championships, following bronze in 2022 and silver in 2023.
Relentless Greeks Turn the Tide
Though the first quarter ended evenly at 2–2, Greece quickly took full control. A stunning 8–0 scoring run across the second and third quarters buried Serbia’s hopes and showcased Greece’s superior preparation, execution, and intensity.
Goalkeeper Panagiotis Tzortzatos was a wall in defence, while field players repeatedly broke through a porous Serbian backline. Greece’s relentless attack was clinical and diverse, with goals coming from all angles and positions. Kalogeropoulos and Pouros led the scoring with three goals each, supported by key contributions from Papanikolaou, Skoumpakis, Argyropoulos, and others.
By halftime, Greece had opened up a 6-goal lead (8–2), and any hope of a Serbian comeback quickly faded. The Greeks continued to dominate in the third and fourth quarters, extending the gap to double digits and effectively ending the contest long before the final whistle.
Stats Tell the Story
Greece’s dominance was evident across all metrics. The team converted 42% of its shots (16/38), compared to Serbia’s 22% (7/32), and committed just four turnovers to Serbia’s eleven. On power plays, Greece went 5 for 12, while Serbia managed only 3 for 7. The scoreboard, like the gameplay, was lopsided in every respect.
Changing of the Guard?
The result also underscores the shifting landscape in men’s water polo. Serbia, once the undisputed ruler of the sport, now exits its third straight World Championship without a medal. Since defeating Greece for bronze in 2017, the Serbs have fallen behind their Mediterranean rivals, who continue to climb steadily.
This victory brings Greece’s all-time World Championship medal count to five (one silver, four bronze) — a tally that reflects not just talent, but also the depth and discipline of its new generation. Combined with the Greek women’s historic gold the day prior, it’s a golden moment for Hellenic water polo.
The Road to Bronze: Greece’s Tournament at a Glance
- Crossover (July 18): Def. Brazil 17–5
- Quarterfinal (July 20): Def. Italy 17–11
- Semifinal (July 22): Lost to Spain 9–11 (penalty shootout)
- Bronze match (July 24): Def. Serbia 16–7
