The Spanish National Team knew that their second match in Castellón, today against Croatia, was not going to be a simple match by any means. Something that Miguel Méndez and his players were able to verify in the first few moments in which the interior duo formed by Awa Fam and Paula Ginzo were the first antidote to the rival’s success. Because the Croatian players were very successful in front of the basket in the first few moments in which the external accuracy of Ana-Marija Begic and Andrijana Cvitkovic forced them to grit their teeth in defense. The Spanish team used its first rotations and this helped control the rebound to reach the end of that first act with the score tied (18-18).
It was, after that first intermission, when Spain began to offer its best minutes of play. Irati Etxarri was in charge of this, bringing oil in the paint, Helena Pueyo, who enjoyed herself on the perimeter, and Maite Cazorla, who brought freshness to the game, marking differences against an opponent who remained confident in their starting five. The public thus entered fully into the fight for victory and Spain did its best to please to cross the 10-point barrier for the first time moments before the break (43-34).
Victory was at stake, but the national team was not going to speculate, going out on the court very energized. Once again pulling on that infallible wild card that is usually Paula Ginzo, but also relying on the prominence of the youngest with Iyana Martín and Helena Pueyo adding positively in the vicinity of the ring to put Spain close to twenty. A moment that impacted a Creole team to sign a small partial of 0-5 with which to try to reduce the differences (64-50).
Miguel Méndez asked his players for concentration in that last interquarter to be able to avoid any type of Croatian reaction and they once again responded to his demand with a really solid last act. In it, we could see a Spain dedicated in defense and a very active Helena Pueyo to close the match and the victory with a great block (78-62).
A triumph that, together with the victory of the Netherlands against Austria, leaves Spain just one step away from a classification that could be a reality in the next February Window.
