MADRID, 7 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The national men’s handball coach, Jordi Ribera, celebrated Wednesday’s qualification for the semi-finals of the Olympic Games after beating Egypt 29-28 in a match that they knew “was going to be very difficult” and which they ended up winning in large part due to “that spirit of always fighting that has been passed down from generation to generation.”
“It was a very difficult match from the start. In the first half we had a hard time scoring goals and they defended very well. I think Juan Carlos (Pastor, Egypt coach) prepared the match very well in terms of defensive work and we were a little overwhelmed by the fact that we didn’t score goals,” Ribera said in the mixed zone in statements provided by the RFEBM.
The Catalan coach was pleased that “at least in defence” they were at a good level and “focused”. “They are a difficult team to play against because they have an easy shot and are a physical team,” he stressed in this regard.
“The second half didn’t start off particularly well and we had to make changes, and risky ones at that. We knew we could lose the game at any given moment if we made those changes because the game of ‘7’ against ‘6’ required a lot of risk and we also changed some defensive actions,” the coach continued.
He was clear that if they got closer on the scoreboard “the dynamics could change.” “We got that draw and I think they have a little more doubts. Also, in defense, some contacts that there were have changed a little,” he warned.
“Then we went into extra time, where anything could have happened, but I think we were able to handle the tension, maintain our defensive level, and although we may have had an easier time scoring, anything could have happened,” Ribera explained.
He praised the positive side of being in the semi-finals again for his sport, and also doing so “with a very different group” to the one he competed with three years ago in Tokyo and “with young people who are having their first experience.” “It’s not easy to get to the quarter-finals here, where you know the impact it has, and I’m also very happy for our sport. Sometimes these things can serve to unify us,” he confessed.
Regarding the four-goal disadvantage with 15 minutes to go, Ribera did not get too nervous, he was “just” focused on “what was missing” and what he had to “try to do to reduce that advantage.” “This is a team that is practically used to being there until the last moment, that seems to be down, that things are not going well and suddenly is capable of winning the game. I think that is a great achievement for a group that fights until the last ball and that in the end, in today’s case, has achieved its objective,” he commented.
“I think that the spirit of fighting, of wanting to win and of always giving everything on the court has been passed down from generation to generation, no matter who is playing, whether they are on the bench or knowing that some players will one day participate more or less. I think that this gene is what has helped us achieve many results and that we have all inherited it from all those who have come before us,” concluded the coach.
For his part, Agustín Casado stressed that it was “not” the match they wanted or had “planned”. “We knew how difficult the match was, but we wanted to do better because we had a chance. They played a great match and we showed once again that this team never gives up,” he stressed.
“In the face of adversity and despite being behind on the scoreboard all the time, in the end we fought for every ball, and in the end that gives us an advantage, I think a little different from the rest. We are happy to be in the ‘semis’, because maybe people won’t value it much now, but it is something historic for us,” concluded the centre-back.