The European trap that can leave Spain out of the Tokyo Games |

A victory of Norway and Croatia in the continental tournament will greatly complicate the Olympic ticket for the national team

• Last match
  

  Spain ties an incomprehensible match and ends up as a group leader
  

The goal of Spain in this European is already two victories. Win the European? Well, yes, of course, but no. The coach Jordi Ribera admit that the mind is somewhere else. “Our priority is to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games s or s. Winning the European we will have direct ticket, so we are very focused on that,” he acknowledges upon arriving in Stockholm, where his team will face Slovenia this Friday in the semifinals. Above all else, the Games are a mess for the players, an open wound, a pain that ensues at any time. Four years ago in the middle of little prodigious, Spain stayed out of Ro 2016 – for the first time since Montreal 1976 – and there is no one who remembers it. It was the disaster of this generation, the only one.

That is why more than raising a title that belongs to them for two years, since the success in the European Zagreb, now the Olympic ticket is sought and, hence, the illusion and, hence, fears.

Because Spain is only two steps away from securing the ticket for the Tokyo Games and at the same time it is two steps away from the appointment. If the European wins, confirm his classification, but if Norway and Croatia win, the Pre-Olympic of the selection led by Ribera will be very difficult. The system, like almost everyone who leads to the Games, is complex.

Right now, for its seventh place in the past World Cup, Spain is framed in a simple Pre-Olympic, with a fearsome rival, Norway, and two very affordable, Chile and South Korea. When qualifying two per group, the pass to the Games will depend solely on not failing in a priori simple games. But that privilege may disappear in this European.

If Norway takes the title, it will have a direct ticket to the Games and the Pre-Olympic positions will run. As Spain will suddenly be seen in a group with Germany as organizer of the tournament, Portugal and the second best African team to play these days, say Tnez. The chances of failing will be much higher, something that will be exaggerated if Croatia were European champion. Yes Domagoj Duvnjak and company raise the title, Spain will meet Portugal, the second team of the African and France, the champion of everything, as organizer of the event.

In both cases the players of Ribera will be much more required to go to the Tokyo Olympics, more taking into account the dates of the Pre-Olympic. For its veteran, Spain suffers when its referents are tired and the decisive tournaments are framed at a delicate moment of the season. They will be played from April 17 to 19 just one week before teams such as Barcelona, ​​Pick Szeged, Veszprem or Kielce, the teams where internationals play, dispute the quarterfinals of the Champions League.