On a bad day and after one end of heart attack (a penalty missed by Russia with full time), Spain has achieved this Friday in Bratislava its sixth consecutive victory in the European handball, which leaves them very close to the semifinals. The continental champion of the last two editions failed hard in attack in the first half and weakened in defense for much of the second, but reacted in time to wipe out a four-goal disadvantage and end up winning after that Soroka failed from 7 yards out.
With 6 points in his box and waiting for what will happen this afternoon in the other duels, those of Jordi Ribera have in their hands the classification for the fight for medals, which could arrive on Sunday against Norway or on Tuesday against Poland, in the last clash of the main phase. Spain, in any case, has a network. The sixth consecutive semifinals are on track.
Pérez de Vargas, decisive
“That was the goal we were coming for,” said Gonzalo Perez de Vargas about the upcoming semifinals. “We are on the right track, but everyone still has options and we have to fight until the end. “, analyzed the goalkeeper, who almost rubbed the last and decisive throw. “Winning like that also helps us continue to grow as a team,” he added.
That Russia will face it has been clear from the beginning. Goalkeeper Victor Kireev has put on his hero costume and solved the first two clearings counterattacks which the Hispanics had in the party. Still in the first half there would be a third, and a detained penalty, and two other easy stops that made them doubt in attack a Spain that has failed to exploit the ends and has been infected by the pace of his rival.
On the other hand, Russia took advantage of their counterattack and his counterattack. Every change of attack-defense was an ordeal for the team of Girona’s Jordi Ribera, who has been slow to adjust to this situation. He got it seconds before the break. The defense finally managed to stop Russia and two consecutive actions by Chema Márquez gave Spain the first advantage of two (10-12) throughout the match shortly before leaving for the locker room (11-12).
No matter how much the Hispanics sharpened their aim in attack, everything suggested that the sixth consecutive victory in the tournament would fall by its own weight, but Russia has insisted that this was not the case. The Spanish defense has started to make water and Corrales, at a high level in the first half, has stopped. Russia, who had only scored 11 goals in the first half hour, scored 8 in the first 10 minutes of the second half, especially a Santalov (8 goals) who punished over and over again to give his team a four-goal lead which seemed almost definitive (22-18).
Pérez de Vargas and the 5-1 defense have been Ribera’s bets to get one reaction that was to be imminent. And it has been. In just over a minute, Ángel Fernández, Jorge Maqueda and Aleix Gómez made the difference. A new party, which Spain has been cooking since then over low heat. A goal from the left wing of Barça balanced the score 10 minutes from the end and missing 5 the right winger has put the Spaniards ahead.
A good defense, a very safe Pérez de Vargas and a steal from Agustín Casado, more crucial with this action even with his 7 points, have kept Spain ahead until the last action. With seven seconds to play, Russia has had one last attack to tie the clash. Pérez de Vargas has stopped Shishkarev’s forced throwing on the horn, but while the Hispanics were celebrating the victory the referees reviewed the action and they decreed about 7 meters by a small obstruction of Angel Fernandez. Soroka, however, crashed his shot into the woodwork after Pérez de Vargas hit the fair.
A very close victory for the Hispanics that leaves them very close to the semifinals and keeps immaculate their trajectory in the tournament, in which it has prevailed in the last two editions and where it already chains 17 games without losing (16 victories and a draw ).
