MADRID, 12 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men's handball team began the 2024 European Championship held in Germany this Friday with a defeat (29-39) against Croatia, a bad debut from the first minute where they also regretted the injury of Miguel Sánchez-Migallón.
Jordi Ribera's men did not find themselves in defense and Croatia was also tremendously effective. The problems grew without stopping for the 'Hispanos', who tried to react by emptying the goal to attack with superiority, with another bad tackle in the second half that made a comeback impossible. Spain resoundingly lost the duel between favorites to advance with full points from Group B.
The European Championship started without a countdown for the 'Hispanics' and, when they wanted to take the first step, the Croatians were already several ahead of them. The harlequinade team shined from the first half, without having to rely on two important pieces like Domagoj Duvnjak or Igor Karacic. Spain lacked defense and, although they found the goals as the minutes passed, they did not overcome the bad start.
Ribera's team started hard against the Croatian wall and the score was 1-5 after six minutes. Furthermore, the few Spanish goals were punished by Croatia in the retreat, with lethal aim from the Croatians while the Spanish added with Agustín Casado and, later, Aleix Gómez. Alex Dujshebaev came in to try to clarify the ideas but the 'Hispanics' suffered a bigger blow.
Miguel Sánchez-Migallón hurt his left hand and his almost tears on the bench said it all. The bad feeling, in the absence of a medical examination, was felt by his teammates on the court and Croatia once again stretched their lead (5-10). Ribera's second timeout returned Spain without a goalkeeper, attacking with seven for almost the rest of the first half, with quite good results.
The risk took a while to materialize, but the goals came, thanks to Imanol Garciandia's long-range shot and the attention it required from the Croatian defense. However, the 'Hispanos' did not cover the bleeding at the back, which was even more difficult without Sánchez-Migallón, nor did the change of Sergey Hernández for Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas work due to lack of help. Despite a rather unfortunate first half, the scoreboard at half-time said it was a game (14-18).
Tin Lucin and Mario Sostaric were the offensive weapons of a Croatia that even improved its performance in the return to the locker room. Ribera's plan went to waste with a three-minute bloodletting where Spain conceded a goal in each rival attack. The emptying of the goal stopped working and Ivan Martinovic increased his scoring tally.
Duvnjak took the red card, but the double European champion also got almost nothing from his exclusion. Ribera's 5:1 defense missed Sánchez-Migallón and, although Pérez de Vargas returned, the goal that worked was also the Croatian one, with Mandic at the same level as Ivic or better. With ten down, Spain even lowered its arms and the 'Hispanics' failed like very few times, in the worst defeat in their history in a European Championship.