Women's Water Polo Tournament at the Aquatics WA World Championships 2023

[Vektor 3,326]

On 7/16/2023 at 8:23 AM, Vektor said:

These are the expected QFs now:

 

 v

 v  

 v  

 v  

 

The US and Spain are the heavy favorites for the quotas, with a slight chance that the Netherlands upsets the US in the semi or Hungary upsets Spain in the quarters, but I wouldn't bet money on either of those to happen, women's water polo is very predictable. 

Women's water polo is predictable as always, these will be the QFs, as it was expected.

 

 v  SF is almost set in stone, while the other two QFs,  v  and  v  will be less predictable. I am guessing an  v  semi, but Greece and Hungary have a chance to upset.

[JoshMartini007 2,813]

South Africa with a top 12 finish, that pretty much seals their Olympic participation next year.

[Benolympique 2,423]

so one of these european nations will miss the games: .. what a mess

[JoshMartini007 2,813]

6 minutes ago, Benolympique said:

so one of these european nations will miss the games: .. what a mess

could defeat in the semis which then puts in the hot seat.

[Benolympique 2,423]

2 minutes ago, JoshMartini007 said:

could defeat in the semis which then puts in the hot seat.

frankly the USA is above the lot

[JoshMartini007 2,813]

2 minutes ago, Benolympique said:

frankly the USA is above the lot

They are the best, but aren't unbeatable. No doubt the United States will be the favourites, but a good day for the Netherlands could see the upset.

[Vektor 3,326]

5 minutes ago, JoshMartini007 said:

could defeat in the semis which then puts in the hot seat.

 winning against the European teams and qualifying here is more likely. But the most likely scenario obviously is  +  here.

 

And honestly, if  is truly that weak, they shouldn't qualify for Paris just because Russia is banned. 

[CCB 613]

2 hours ago, Vektor said:

 winning against the European teams and qualifying here is more likely. But the most likely scenario obviously is  +  here.

 

And honestly, if  is truly that weak, they shouldn't qualify for Paris just because Russia is banned. 

in the final means two out of  will miss the Games. That's even a bigger mess ... 

 

I don't see  upset  . Well, when  doesn't qualify, it's their own 'fault'. Losing against Spain was enough for a realistic Olympic chance. 

[AsensioWillemsen 174]

15 hours ago, Vektor said:

 winning against the European teams and qualifying here is more likely. But the most likely scenario obviously is  +  here.

 

And honestly, if  is truly that weak, they shouldn't qualify for Paris just because Russia is banned. 

The problem to me is moreso that it is really dependent on the draw next time around. Draw  early and you are in a messy situation. Still able to get out of it though, 3rd place will be enough. What also is a problem to me is the proximity of the Europeans and the next worlds, but the difference to the smaller nations makes that it should be fine.

 

If  edge out a surprise and  fails to make the finals, then five teams is on the cards. But seems very unlikely. The latter is more important to me though, if  qualifies now I'm pretty positive  will take on of the spots for grabs later on.

[Vektor 3,326]

1 hour ago, AsensioWillemsen said:

The problem to me is moreso that it is really dependent on the draw next time around. Draw  early and you are in a messy situation. Still able to get out of it though, 3rd place will be enough. What also is a problem to me is the proximity of the Europeans and the next worlds, but the difference to the smaller nations makes that it should be fine.

 

If  edge out a surprise and  fails to make the finals, then five teams is on the cards. But seems very unlikely. The latter is more important to me though, if  qualifies now I'm pretty positive  will take on of the spots for grabs later on.

Bad draw can still be an issue if a team gets unlucky. I mean, imagine this...

 

 gets defeated by  here in the QF

 

 gets defeated by  at the Euros in the SF (the winner of the other SF wins the quota there)

 

 gets defeated by  yet again at the next Worlds in the QF 

 

If we somehow get Spain early on every time, we might not qualify to Paris even if we are supposedly the 2nd or 3rd best team in Europe, we are just unable to beat the best European team. 

 

This is why it's an AWFUL idea to have the World Champs as a final qualification tournament instead of an actual qualification tournament where already qualified teams can't compete.