The hostess triumphs at home and lifts her third title in a row
MADRID, 23 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s roller hockey team was crowned European champion for the 19th time this Saturday by beating Portugal (4-2) in the final of the tournament held in the municipality of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona).
A brace from Marc Julià and another from Marc Grau gave Spain the third title in a row, which is close to 21, which is still Portugal’s record. The Iberian classic, however, remains under Spanish dominance with eight finals out of nine against the Portuguese in the last 13 editions of the continental tournament.
Guillem Cabestany’s men dominated the final with authority and only the lack of success or the saves of the rival goal prevented a better result than the 1-0 at halftime. However, in the first minutes of the restart the score went to 3-0.
Spain took advantage of the numerical superiority and the direct free kicks with Julià. In addition, a Grau who was one of the best of the tournament did not miss his appointment with the goal on the key day, against a Portugal that was entrusted to Gonçalo Alves, who scored the two goals in two individual actions but without a sense of danger as a whole.
The hostess thus celebrated a resounding victory before her audience, signing a tournament that seemed to start with doubts, two draws in the first two games, but which went from less to more until the title was lifted. A golden team that avenges the defeat in the quarterfinals last year at the World Cup.