The ‘Warriors’ face the moment of truth
The women’s team seeks the semifinals of the World Cup against Germany
MADRID, 13 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s handball team will face this Tuesday at the Palacio de Deportes de Granollers (8:30 p.m. / Teledeporte) its important quarterfinal duel of the World Cup in Spain against Germany, the obstacle that is crossed in the dream of being back in the fight for the medals.
The ‘Guerreras’ have so far completed their first championship stretch with note. The main objective of the current world runner-up was to reach the quarterfinals and she has achieved it, and also without losing any game, an undefeated condition that she must now maintain in the true moment of truth.
After a first phase resolved with authority against Argentina, China and Austria, the demand was raised in the Main Round, but the team led by José Ignacio Prades has known how to accept it to raise its level and suffer when necessary. The victories against Japan, Croatia and Brazil have increased the level of morale and confidence before a match against a Germany that promises difficulties and that will again demand a maximum level of concentration both in attack and, above all, in defense.
Spain is scoring at a good level in its 6-0 and from there it is building its triumphs, something that will not change against a rival that also defends well and that will surely want to play with the pressure that the hosts may have and their theoretical greater ‘responsibility’ .
Henk Groener’s team, which has been planted in the quarterfinals with a single defeat, against Denmark, but very forceful (32-16), is still waiting for its opportunity to be back in a fight for the medals from which it has been away for a long time . However, both in the last World Cup and in the last European Championship they have made their competitive capacity clear and they are once again on the verge of achieving it.
The ‘Warriors’ will have to strive above all to stop the impact on the rival offensive game of the front-row players such as center-back Alina Grijseels and left-back Emily Bolk, and then in attack to control losses above all.
The two teams know each other ‘well’ since before facing the World Cup they faced each other in the International Tournament in Spain where the current world runner-up won by a tight 23-22, a score that can already show how tight it can be. be all in the Palacio de Deportes de Granollers.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
SPAIN: Silvia Navarro (p), Mercedes Castellanos (p); Carmen Martín, Carmen Campos, Silvia Arderius, Eli Cesáreo, Laura Hernández, Jénnifer Gutiérrez, Maitane Etxeberria, Soledad López, Kaba Gassama, Alicia Fernández, Almudena Rodríguez, Ainhoa Hernández, Irene Espínola, Paula Arcos, Mireya González, Shandy Barbosa.
ALEMANIA: Eckerle (p), Filter (p), Kalf, Berger, Grijseels, Schmelzer, Antl, Smits, Petersen, Stolle, Zschocke, Bolke, Maidhof, Lauenroth, Schulze y Stockschalader.
– PAVILION: Granollers Sports Palace.
–TIME: 20.30 / Teldeporte.