MADRID, 19 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish handball coach, Jordi Ribera, celebrated having “done his homework” in a pristine first phase in the World Cup in Poland and Sweden and put his presence in the quarterfinals of the tournament on track with his victorious debut in the ‘Main Round’ against the Poles, and warned that Slovenia, their next rival, will be “very difficult to defend because of the great variety they have”.
“Our journey so far is what allows you to know that this game is vital. If we hadn’t done our homework we wouldn’t have those expectations. It’s an important game between two teams that have done their job well. Slovenia has done a very good first phase” , said the coach in the preview of the duel against the Slovenians this Wednesday (3:30 p.m.) at the TAURON Arena in Krakow.
For the coach, the key to the match against the Slovenian team will be defense, given the “easy” rival to “score goals”. “Their players play well tactically and their game is very creative, with wingers that could be central. They are very difficult to defend because of the great variety they have,” he analyzed.
“They force you and generate many doubts in the continuous outings they have, it will be important not to lose balls,” he added about a team they lost to in the 2018 European Championship and the 2016 Rio Games.
Finally, he stressed that the ‘Hispanics’ have been “little by little” adapting to the tournament, “perhaps going further.” “We had a difficult match against the home team (Poland), which perhaps has very few potions, but at home you always play more motivated. But the team had the capacity to react in the second half and it allows us to have the scenario we have now” He stated about the victory (27-23) over the Poles.