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José Manuel Andrés
Madrid
Viernes, 24 de enero 2025, 17:41
In their first do-or-die clash at the Handball World Cup, the Spanish team faltered against an outstanding version of Portugal, undoubtedly the team that has made the most progress in the 40x20 sport over the last decade. The Portuguese team, the best in the group so far, arrived with a two-point advantage over Spain, which had been put against the ropes by a defeat to Norway 48 hours earlier. The Spanish, known for their ability to respond effectively in critical situations, this time could not counter the lightning-fast play of a team in which the feared Costa brothers, Martim and Francisco, Salvador Salvador, and goalkeeper Diogo Marques shone.
Too many strong arguments against them despite the good initial performance of the Spanish team, with Casado stepping up in game direction and high defensive intensity, which seemed to initially control the Costas, pillars of a constantly growing team in recent years. These virtues led to the first Spanish surge on the scoreboard up to 6-4. However, two exclusions of Barrufet, a specialist in advanced 5-1 defense, and the Portuguese ability to strike in the first wave turned the result around in the blink of an eye (6-7).
Equality came to dominate the duel, and Jordi Ribera entrusted the small but electric Dani Fernández with the reins of the 5-1 scheme in defense. It paid off, as between Sergey Hernández's saves, steals, and counterattacks, Spain dealt Portugal a 4-0 run, quickly answered by the dizzying Portuguese play and the quality of the young and talented Salvador Salvador.
Spain
Sergey Hernández, Barrufet (3), Sánchez-Migallón, Solé (2), Tarrafeta (3), Casado (5) and Garciandia (3) -starting seven-; Pérez de Vargas (sub.), Dani Fernández (6, 5p), Sánchez-Migallón, Serdio (2), Javi Rodríguez (1), Carlos Álvarez, Dani Dujshebaev, Petar Cikusa, Álex Dujshebaev (4) and Djordje Cikusa.
29
-
35
Portugal
Capdeville, Fernandes (2), Frade (1), Areia (3, 3p), Salvador (6), Martim Costa (3) and Francisco Costa (8) -starting seven-; Marques (sub.), Branquinho (1), Iturriza (4), Brandao, Portela (1), Magalhaes (2), Oliveira, Rui Silva (2) and Gomes (2).
Scores: 3-2, 6-6, 8-8, 12-9, 14-13, 16-15 -half-time-; 19-18, 19-21, 21-22, 23-25, 25-30 and 29-35.
Referees: Nachevski and Nikolov (North Macedonia). They excluded Spaniards Barrufet (2), Garciandia, Dani Fernández, Casado, and Sánchez-Migallón, and Portuguese Iturriza (2) and Magalhaes.
Incidents: Second round match in group III of the main round of the World Cup held at the Unity Arena in Oslo.
The match reached half-time in an exciting back-and-forth, on paper favorable to the chaotic Portuguese play, but a spectacular goal by Ferran Solé at the buzzer gave the Spanish a slight advantage to take into the locker room. Álex Dujshebaev led another good display by the Spanish after the break, with an interesting +3 (19-16) that lasted a breath. Six Spanish errors and six consecutive Portuguese goals, with Francisco Costa in stellar mode, put the match uphill, with a dangerous 19-22 that threatened to cut short the Spanish path in the World Cup.
Spain, not very accurate in front of the rival goal, clung to a match without a safety net, but without finding any antidote to the Costa brothers' poison. The pressure under the threat of a KO took its toll on Jordi Ribera's team, very hasty in their attacks, allowing Portugal easy goals. Thus, hope faded in an unfortunate stretch of the match that shot the Portuguese lead to a harsh 24-30.
Only a miracle remained, which with the Spanish involved, can never be ruled out. Spain maximized the mobility of their defense and began to steal balls to close the gap on the run. The gap had been reduced to three goals when Garciandia encountered Marques' plastic stretch, a true wall. It was the symbol of the Spanish capitulation, who, as in last year's European Championship, are left out of the knockout stage of a major tournament that serves as a starting point for a new generation. Despite the setback, the progress of the young players, already with the experience of this first international championship, allows for a glimpse of an upward trend in this Olympic cycle that is just beginning.
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