The ‘Hispanics’ deactivate Latvia to debut well in the European

The Spanish handball team started with victory the European Men's Championship, where it defends its title won in 2018, after imposing 33-22 on Latvia in a rough match corresponding to the first day of Group C.

Thus, the 'Hispanics' sweated a great deal before a team that made its historical debut in the final phase of a European and that, on the parquet of the Trondheim Spektrum, were entrusted to the coral claw and the success in attack of the corpulent Dainis side Kristopans

In this multisede championship for Norwegian, Swedish and Austrian lands, the pupils of Jordi Ribera took to warm up. The five goals of Kristopans in the first part joined several key stops of Edgars Kuksa, causing the Spanish drought until the minute 7:28.

Ferran Solé was in charge of opening the 'Hispanic' account, transforming a penalty and thus changing the dynamics of a somewhat rough encounter. Until 19:11, when Jorge Maqueda scored a pitch from the left side, Spain was not ahead on the scoreboard.

Kristopans kept the Latvian team close, aided by the left back Aivis Jurdzs, and the game was also embarrassed by the red card that the referees taught Maqueda himself for having struck in the face of an opponent during a defensive action.

In spite of everything, those of Ribera knew how to manage that setback and with a great deal they left in the electronic Trondheim Spektrum (14-10). Just above the horn that indicated the rest, a quite distant throw from Uvis Strazdins surprised goalkeeper Rodrigo Corrales and put the 14-11 in between.

When returning from the locker room, defensive intensity was seen in Spain and the small partials were increasing their advantage, with Ángel Fernández standing in the sharpest weapon. His five goals, at the rate of five shots and therefore with 100% effectiveness, left the victory for the defending team of the title well channeled.

In contrast, Kristopans accused fatigue and no one else came to the rescue of the staff trained by Armands Uscins. In mere anecdote was the second red card received by the 'Hispanics', this time towards Viran Morros for a play traced to that of Maqueda.

Nor did his teammates notice it, as Aleix Gómez joined the global success in the offensive tasks and Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas gave a formidable relief to Corrales in the goal. Thus, Latvia suffered to certify its defeat by 33-22 in a group that is emerging after Germany's simultaneous victory over the Netherlands (34-23).

DATA SHEET.

–OUTCOME: SPAIN, 33 – LATVIA, 22 (14-11, at rest).

–EQUIPMENT.

SPAIN: Corrales (P), Maqueda (1), Entrerríos (3), Guardiola (1), D.Dujshebaev (1), Solé (4, 2 pen.) And Ariño (1) –titles–; Pérez de Vargas (P) (1), Fernández (5), A.Dujshebaev (3), Sarmiento (2), Aginagalde (2), Figueras (1), Cañellas (3), Morros (1) and Gómez (4 , 1 pen.).

LATVIA: Kuksa (P), Versakovs (3, 1 pen.), Strazdins (1), Jurdzs (5), Kristopans (7), Arajs (-) and Dude (3) –titles–; Purins (P), Leja (1), Kreicbergs (2), Tuminskis (-), Lilienfelds (-), Klesniks (-), Pavlovics (-), Ermanis (-), Politers (-) and Suleiko.

– PARTIALS EVERY 5 MINUTES: 0-1, 2-4, 5-6, 8-8, 11-9 and 14-11 (rest); 16-13, 19-16, 21-16, 26-17, 26-19 and 33-22.

– ARBITRATORS: Henrik Mortensen and Jesper Kirkholm Madsen (DIN). On behalf of Spain, they warned Ariño with a yellow card; and they reprimanded Maqueda and Morros with a red card. On the part of Latvia, two minutes excluded Dude, Jurdzs (2), Klesniks and Kreicbergs; and yellowed Dude.

–PAVILION: Trondheim Spektrum.