Spain is measured in ‘semis’ to Croatia after the high of Serbia

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Spain is measured in 'semis' to Croatia after the high of Serbia

BARCELONA, Jan. 23 (SportsFinding) –

The Spanish men's water polo team is measured this Friday (17.30 hours) to Croatia in the semifinals of the Budapest European Championship, a clash to which the Spaniards arrive with high morale after winning Serbia, current four-time European champions.

Spain beat the penalty shootout, with a great Dani López Pinedo who with his arms led the national team to this penultimate game. A triumph of importance before a Serbia that will lose its scepter and that already came from being a victim of the Spaniards in the World Cup.

Those of David Martín knew how to overcome an adverse first half of 2-1 and, with a 1-4 in the second, took an income that they could not keep, but left the scoreboard on tables and, on penalties, allowed to rise to 'semis' by López Pinedo.

At night it was the turn of the Croats, who were imposed on Greece (14-11) from a first quarter of 6-3. The strong start, Bijac stops and the effectiveness of Jokovic (4 goals), Vrlic (3) and Xavier García Gadea (3) served the Croatian pass.

Now, Spain is measured with the illusion with which it is playing the whole championship to an upward Croatia, which is going to more and that already wants to play a final to fight for a gold that resists them and that they are getting closer and closer.

In fact, the Croats were third in the past Gwangju World Cup 2019 that Spain lost in the final against Italy. In the last European, in Barcelona 2018, they were also a bronze medal and, in the Rio 2016 Games, silver.

But the Spaniards also want to finish and be able to measure themselves to Montenegro or to the host Hungary in the fight for that gold that escaped them in Barcelona, ​​two years ago, against Serbia. Match, matched, to be decided by details.

DATA SHEET.

–EQUIPMENT.

SPAIN: López Pinedo (p), Lorrio (p); Munárriz, Granados, Sanahuja, De Toro, Larumbe, Delgado, Fernández, Tahull, Perrone, Mallarach and Bustos.

CROATIA: Bijac (p), Marcelic (p); Macan, Fatovic, Loncar, Jokovic, Bukic, Vukicevic, Buslje, ​​Milos, Vrlic, Benic and García Gadea.

– PAVILION: Budapest Sand Dune.

– HOUR: 17.30 / Teledeporte.