MADRID, 14 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish Under-18 handball team has been proclaimed European champion in Montenegro this Sunday after defeating Sweden (32-34) in the final, thus revalidating the medal from the last edition of the tournament played in Croatia, the second title for the national coach Javier Fernández Jabato.
A historic triumph for the 2004-2005 generation, which reflects the outstanding work of Spanish handball. Thus, she adds her ninth medal of 2022, the third gold after the Women’s Beach Handball World Championship and the Junior European Championship last July.
The Swedish defense, closed in a rocky 6-0, forced the Spanish players to look for the outside shot to find the goal in the first minutes. The rival team, with a notable offensive rhythm, gave speed to the game, but ran into an immense Álvaro Pérez in goal.
Thanks to the skill of Xavier González from seven meters and the claws of the Cikusa brothers on the counterattack, Jabato’s pupils managed to obtain the maximum advantage after the first third of the match (4-8) with a partial 0-5. After a timeout, the powerful Pelle Segertoft took charge of Sweden’s reaction and the Nordics narrowed the gap to within a goal of equalizing (9.10).
Sweden tightened the game and Spain, as usual, sought to grow from defense. Homlberg and the post teamed up to prevent Spain from coming back on the scoreboard, which looked 13-12 with five minutes to go before the break. Five minutes of excitement and intensity in equal parts in which the Nordic team managed to maintain the slightest advantage (16-15).
The exchange of blows continued after the restart. Without a clear dominator, the match remained in maximum equality, which from time to time was broken by one of the teams after a rival mistake or a stoppage. Pol Quiroga asserted himself with several interventions that helped the Spanish team to stay on the scoreboard, without giving Sweden a break.
The stingy Spanish defense once again bore fruit, with two steals and two counterattack goals that served to turn the game around. However, it was difficult for Spain to defend its income, although it managed to maintain a modest income.
The clash stalled in the final minutes and the Scandinavian team came within a goal of the tie, but a goal by Ferran Castillo, which led to the exclusion of the Swedish team, and the decisive interventions of Álvaro Pérez sealed the victory for the team Spanish (32-34).