MADRID, 14 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s handball team will play this Saturday (20:15) their second match of the EHF EURO Cup 2024 as local, at the Olivo Arena in Jaén, and against Germany, a classic of recent years in which Spain will seek his first victory in the competition.
Jordi Ribera’s men began this tournament among the four already qualified for the next European Championship with a defeat on Wednesday in Copenhagen. Denmark, current world champion, taught the “Hispanics” that it’s time to get their batteries three months before the 2023 World Cup with a 39-31.
In the second, the Spanish team will seek to release their record of victories against an equally powerful Germany, although now in the warmth of their fans in Jaén. The team returns to the capital of Jaén 32 years later, in an attractive duel in which the Germans will also seek their first victory after falling to Sweden on Thursday (33-37).
Against Denmark, Spain varied its defense in search of solutions, from where it will have to grow in this second round, and had a good performance from Álex and Dani Dujshebaev and Ian Tarrafeta. Germany has several novelties ahead of this duel against the ‘Hispanics’ since Simon Ernst has entered Alfred Gislason’s squad at the last minute due to Lukas Stutzke’s injury.
Meanwhile, Paul Drux will not play either because he will be a father in the next few hours. However, Germany is an old acquaintance, such as Andreas Wolff, Patrick Groetzki or Philipp Weber, with a lot of young talent from its captain Johannes Golla, who went up to 12 goals against Sweden; Juri Knorr or Julian Koster.
In the history of clashes, of 47 meetings between both teams, Spain has won 35 times, with 9 losses and 3 draws. Of the last six games, the ‘Hispanics’ have won five against a rival that appeared in the way of the last major tournaments. The last precedent was the Spanish victory by 23-29 in the Main Round of the continental event last January.
“This will be an attractive game for many reasons. The first because of the rival entity, an entire German team. The second because it is played at home, in Jaén, a lot of fans are expected and that forces us to do a good job”, Ribera said in statements provided by the Royal Spanish Handball Federation.
“The specific preparation for this duel will be short, but we make up for that with the ambition of the players, who are willing to bring joy to our fans at the Olivo Arena,” he added, after arriving in Jaén on Thursday night from land Danish.