Red Sharks U20 to play in a tournament in Hanover
Preparations for the U20 Division 1 European Championship in Hanover are now complete.
Four matches against strong opponents did not yield the results we had hoped for, but above all provided a wealth of experience ahead of the European Championship.
On Friday, they faced the host nation, Germany, straight away. From the very first period, it was clear that the standard of play was exceptionally high. Germany’s pressing, high tempo and clinical finishing meant that Belgium were under constant pressure. Despite their fighting spirit and some fine moments of play, the opening match ended in a 21–8 defeat.
After a short break, Belgium faced the Netherlands – yet another absolute powerhouse in European water polo. The Red Sharks continued to fight for every ball and managed to score a few fine goals, but here too, the intensity and quality of the opposition made the difference. Final score: 26–10.
After a night’s rest, France were next – the third European powerhouse in this tournament. The Red Sharks’ teamwork was noticeably better and the team grew into the match. Nevertheless, the French side’s constant high pressing and efficient finishing proved too much to handle. Final score: 6–21.
On Sunday morning came the match everyone had been looking forward to: Great Britain, a direct rival from Division 1. The Red Sharks were keen to show what they were capable of and played with much greater confidence. They fought for every ball and created plenty of chances to turn the match in their favour. Unfortunately, they lacked efficiency at the decisive moments. Four missed penalty throws ultimately proved too much. Belgium lost narrowly 16–18.
The conclusion is clear. Against the three top nations (elite) in this tournament – Germany, the Netherlands and France – our Red Sharks were still not quite up to scratch today. Not in terms of commitment or character, but in terms of experience, speed of execution and efficiency. That is the harsh reality at the top international level.
At the same time, the match against Great Britain gave us a great deal of confidence. Against a team from the same division, the Red Sharks proved they can hold their own. With better finishing, this match could even have been won.
The task ahead of the European Championships is therefore clear: keep working hard, grow as a team, improve our automatic responses and further strengthen our team spirit. Talent alone is not enough. Only by getting better together through every training session, every match and every moment can this team take the next step.