MADRID, 13 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Mercedes Castellanos, Paula Arcos, Eli Cesáreo, Shandy Barbosa and Almudena Rodríguez make up the list of 16 players called by the national women’s handball coach, José Ignacio Prades, to play the Carpati Trophy, from September 29 to October 1 in Romania, to prepare for the 2022 European Championship in November.
Those of José Ignacio Prades, who were proclaimed champions of the Mediterranean Games in Oran this summer by beating Portugal in the final, return to action with the Carpati Trophy, where they will play against Serbia, Austria and the host team, Romania. It will be a gold test to see the level of the team ahead of the European Championship, which will be played between November 4 and 20 in North Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia.
Players with a lot of international experience return to the Prades list, such as Mercedes Castellanos (Costa del Sol Málaga), Paula Arcos (Super Amara Bera Bera), Eli Cesáreo (JDA Dijon), Shandy Barbosa (CBM Morvedre) and Almudena Rodríguez (Rocasa Gran Canary). Regarding the list that won gold in Algeria in July, some players like Ona Vegué (KH-7 Granollers), Maddi Aalla (Super Amara Bera Bera), Paula Valdivia (CB La Calzada) or Alba Spugnini (Rocasa Gran Canaria) repeat ).
The ‘Guerreras’ will meet on September 26 at the High Performance Center (CAR) in Madrid and will leave on the 28 for Romania. Of the six games that Spain played in the qualifying phase for the 2022 European Championship, they won five. In the previous edition, the team was eliminated in the second round.
The national coach, José Ignacio Prades, defined this tournament as a “prelude to the European Championship”. “It is an important test and one of high difficulty in which we are going to face powerful teams such as Romania, Serbia and Austria. They are three European teams that are going to give a lot of trouble, so we are going to check the competitive level of our teams “, he declared.
For Prades, the tournament will serve to “dispel any doubts” that they may have and as an opportunity to “take the best possible team for the European Championship, which is a very important competition” and that they will face “with great enthusiasm “. “It is important to provide players with less experience with minutes and experience and this Carpati Trophy can be a good option to continue seeing this type of player, in addition to seeking balance with more veteran players,” he explained.
José Ignacio Prades described the Mediterranean Games as “an important touchstone to see first-hand” if some players had the level to “expand the range of future players to be summoned”. “The surprise was pleasant because we verified that the number of players who in the future could be important for the national team is increasing,” he concluded.
–LIST OF CALLS.
Goalkeepers: Mercedes Castellanos (Costa del Sol Malaga), Maddi Aalla (Super Amara Bera Bera).
Central: Ester Arrojeria (Super Amara Bera Bera), Carmen Campos (JDA Dijon), Alicia Fernández (Rapid Bucuresti).
Right backs: Almudena Rodríguez (Rocasa Gran Canaria), Paula Arcos (Super Amara Bera Bera).
Left backs: Shandy Barbosa (CBM Morvedre), Lara González (Paris 92).
Wingers: Paula Valdivia (CB La Calzada), Maitane Etxeberria (Super Amara Bera Bera), Jennifer Gutiérrez (Rapid Bucuresti), Ona Vegué (KH-7 Granollers).
Pivots: Alba Spugnini (Rocasa Gran Canaria), Lysa Tchaptchet (Vipers Kristianstad), Elísabet Cesáreo (JDA Dijon).