MADRID, 29 One. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish international Ángel Fernández has assured that they must be “alert” in the European final against Sweden, which they have already beaten in the preliminary round, affirming that it is “very difficult to win two games in a row in the same competition against the same team”, and has wished that the third consecutive gold in the championship will serve to value them more “within” Spain, because “internationally they already do it”.
“It would be an immense joy, it would be to continue making history in world handball. I wish it meant that they value us within our country, because internationally they already do. Perhaps we undervalue ourselves and that’s where the problem starts, and maybe people don’t value us enough. Hopefully we can continue making history for Spanish handball and for Spanish sport. If we don’t succeed, we’ll also be satisfied with the work we’ve done,” he said in an interview with Europa Press.
In addition, he stressed that the ‘Hispanics’ have known how to put an end to all the initial “doubts”. “This team is going to play a final. There was a lot of doubt about this team before the tournament, because there were new faces and a small generational change, and being able to be in a final with all these conditioning factors for us is already a success. Since we are here We want to get gold and make history once again and match Sweden as a team that has three consecutive European Championships,” he said.
Precisely, the Scandinavian team was their rival in the final of the 2018 European Championship, where Spain won the first of their two consecutive gold medals; The Cantabrian left winger was in that championship, although he had to leave the concentration injured and could not play the final, in which he did win the gold.
“It was bad luck, I’ve already made up for all that all these years, getting good results with the national team. It’s a final, the last game, we really want to face it, enjoy it and get that gold for us and for the people who support us. support,” he recalled.
Now, they will face Sweden again, which they have already beaten in the preliminary round (32-28). “I think the two teams will try to improve the game in that match. Perhaps they have more to fix than us, because they made more mistakes than us. Jordi will put us on notice; we have to be very alert throughout that match, because it is very difficult to win two consecutive games in the same competition against the same team. We will fight tooth and nail,” he warned.
Finally, he valued the semifinal against Denmark, which he considers underestimated them by allowing himself to choose the ‘Hispanics’ as a rival. “Yes, the management of the last minutes of Denmark annoyed us and perhaps it motivated us a little. But when you reach a semifinal of a great tournament you do not need more motivation than you already have; you are playing for a medal and what the others do It doesn’t matter a bit to the teams. You’re extra-motivated, excited, you’re going to the top now”, he concluded.