CROATIAN VERSION
CROATIAN WATER POLO NATIONAL TEAM 1999

Vitomir Padovan was playing for Croatian National Team in the European Championship held in Firenza, Italy (1999) for which they won a silver medal. In the final game, Hungarian players were better than Croatian and won (15-12).

Croatia didn't manage to be better than Hungary, but finally with the second place in Europe, Croatian water polo players acheived to make this sport the best trophy sport in Croatia. Fighting for third place, Italians were better than Greek players (7-6) and they took the bronze medal.


'We made 10 mile step instead of 7 during the preparatory training. During the competitions we had a lot of enthusiasm and ambition to win '- said the selector of Croatian National team Neven Kovacevic.
'This season is a good base for our work in the future. I don't have any critics to players or myself. Maybe we could do our defense role different. All our mistakes Hungarians punished by realizations'.
 Results:
1. Hungary
2. Croatia
3. Italy
4. Greece
5. Russia
6. Spain
7. Yugoslavia
8. Germany
9. Romania
10. Slovakia
11. Slovenia
12. Netherlands

   PLAYERS:
1. Sinisa Skolnekovic
2. Vitomir Padovan
3. Teo Djogas
4. Dubravko Simenc
5. Slavko Letica
6. Ratko Stritof
7. Mile Smodlaka

 8. Ivo Ivanis
9. Alen Boskovic
10. Samir Barac
11. Igor Hinic
12. Frano Vican
13. Vjekoslav Kobescak
14. Vedran Jerkovic
15. Viseslav Saric


Hungarian selector Kermeny said:' Hungarian and Croatian players had showed the best game and deserve to play the final competition match which was the best propaganda of water polo. Players were very active, didn't wait to have one more player situation, so we had a few very spectacular shoots. At the end, we were more lucky, we had more fight spirit in ourselves'.


ZAGREB - Water polo players with the silver European medal had been received in Hotel Esplanade. In board committee was the president of the HOO-a Antun Vrdoljak.

The President of Croatian Government Zlatko Matesa appropriated a gold coin award 'Stjepan Radic' to every member of National Team .