MADRID, 16 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish water polo team begins this Monday the defense of its title in the men’s World Championship, which will be held until July 29 in Fukuoka (Japan), where David Martín’s pupils aspire to win what would be their fourth crown world, with the bonus of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Spain is drawn in Group D of this tournament, along with the powerful teams from Serbia, Montenegro and South Africa. Thus, David Martín’s men will open hostilities this Monday (1:30 p.m.) against the Serbs, current Olympic champions although far from the podium in the last big events.
For their part, the Spanish team arrives in Japanese waters full of confidence. His recent title in the World Cup -new coat of the old World League-, swelled an ever-growing booty with Martín at the helm. Under his leadership, Spain sealed several years of improvement in 2022 with World Cup gold in Budapest (Hungary).
That success came on penalties, after a tremendous final against Italy, and healed the wounds of their defeat at the 2019 World Cup that took place in Gwangju (South Korea). Likewise, the Spaniards won silver in 2022 in the European Championship held in Split (Croatia), in the midst of a rush of tournaments to update the calendar.
The covid pandemic, which broke out in the first quarter of 2020, caused several contests to see their dates modified. The International Federation of Aquatic Sports (World Aquatics) is now trying to recover that lost ground, accumulating great appointments and having the Paris 2024 Games on the horizon, the final icing on the cake for everyone.
Martín is included among those who see the Olympic ticket as a priority, but without giving up anything in Fukuoka. “The requirement, as in recent years, is to compete at the highest level, because we know that if we compete as we know how, we will have many chances to win a medal,” said the Spanish coach on the eve of the new World Cup.
“With great desire, we know that it will be very difficult to retain the title, but the objective is to be in the fight for the medals. Experience gives you a lot, of course, having reached the finals. As a coach, after a championship I think about what that we have to improve,” Martín told the official media of the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN).
In the same way, Martín warned that “other difficulties arise later” as each tournament unfolds. For this reason, he encouraged polishing “above all” to “work on the decision making of the players in stressful situations.” “It is important that they arrive physically and mentally well prepared,” said the Spanish coach in the same interview.
Martin’s chosen for this World Cup in Fukuoka are: goalkeepers Unai Aguirre and Edu Lorrio together with Álex Bustos, Felipe Perrone, Marc Larumbe, Martin Famera, Miguel de Toro, Alberto Munárriz, Roger Tahull, Bernat Sanahuja, Sergi Cabanas, Fran Valera , Blai Mallarach, Álvaro Granados and Alberto Barroso.
After their debut against Serbia, the Spanish team will face Montenegro on July 19 (06:30 am) and will face South Africa on July 21 (03:00 am). All the duels of this tournament will take place in Hall B of the Marine Messe Fukuoka. The leader of each group will directly access the quarterfinals, while the second and third must meet in a round of 16 play-off.