Croatia men's national water polo team

Croatia
FINA codeCRO
Nickname(s)Barakude
(The Barracudas)
AssociationCroatian Water Polo Federation
ConfederationLEN (Europe)
Head coachIvica Tucak
Asst coachJure Marelja
Renco Posinković
CaptainMarko Bijač
Most capsIgor Hinić (417)
Top scorer(s)Miho Bošković (369)
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current5 (as of 9 August 2021)
Highest1 (2012, 2013)
Lowest6 (2008)
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances8 (first in 1996)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2012)
5-time Olympian(s)Igor Hinić (1996–2012)
Most medalsPerica Bukić (3 medals, 2 gold and 1 silver)
Top scorer(s)Sandro Sukno (31 goals, 2012–2016)
Most savesFrano Vićan (123 saves, 2000–2012)
Top sprinter(s)Maro Joković (25 sprints won, 2008–2016)
Flag bearer(s)Perica Bukić (1996)
Dubravko Šimenc (2004)
Josip Pavić (2016)
World Championship
Appearances15 (first in 1994)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2007, 2017, 2024)
World Cup
Appearances7 (first in 1995)
Best result2nd place, silver medalist(s) (2010)
World League
Appearances9 (first in 2002)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2012)
European Championship
Appearances16 (first in 1993)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2010, 2022)
Europa Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2018)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances6 (first in 1993)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2013)
Media
Websitehvs.hr (in Croatian)
Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 3 0
World Championship 3 1 4
World Cup 0 1 1
World League 1 3 3
European Championship 2 3 1
Europa Cup 1 1 0
Mediterranean Games 1 1 1
Total 9 13 10
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Team
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta Team
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2007 Melbourne Team
Gold medal – first place 2017 Budapest Team
Gold medal – first place 2024 Doha Team
Silver medal – second place 2015 Kazan Team
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Rome Team
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Shanghai Team
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Barcelona Team
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Gwangju Team
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2010 Oradea
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Almaty
World League
Gold medal – first place 2012 Almaty
Silver medal – second place 2009 Podgorica
Silver medal – second place 2015 Bergamo
Silver medal – second place 2019 Belgrade
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Niš
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Florence
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Ruza
European Championship
Gold medal – first place 2010 Zagreb
Gold medal – first place 2022 Split
Silver medal – second place 1999 Florence
Silver medal – second place 2003 Kranj
Silver medal – second place 2024 Dubrovnik/Zagreb
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Barcelona
Europa Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Rijeka
Silver medal – second place 2019 Zagreb
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place 2013 Mersin
Silver medal – second place 1993 Languedoc-Roussillon
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Bari

The Croatia men's national water polo team represents Croatia in international water polo competitions and is controlled by the Croatian Water Polo Federation. They have won gold medals in the Olympics, World and European Championships, FINA World League and Mediterranean Games, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world. Overall Croatia won 33 medals at competitions.

It was the first Croatian national team to win a gold medal at the Olympics or World Games, the World and European Championships.

Croatia played their 800th game since gaining independence on 20 August 2022 and they won their 517th victory.[1]

  1. ^ "Pobjeda u jubilarnoj 800. utakmici Barakuda: Hrvatska trijumfom nad Francuzima otvorila turnir u Beogradu". sportske.jutarnji.hr. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.