Spain suffered more than expected in its World Cup debut, but ultimately lived up to predictions, bolstered by Pérez de Vargas’s saves and Álex Dujshebaev’s direction
It is always difficult to get into action in the big national team tournaments. It is a topic that is often used by coaches and players, but is also a reality. Spain’s handball team was a victim of this sport’s maxim in its World Cup debut. At times they had to beat Montenegro, a theoretically inferior rival but who kept up the challenge until the last minutes, but came out of the complicated start unscathed, thanks in large part to Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas’s saves and Álex Dujshebaev’s direction in attack. They are two of those called to make a difference in favor of Hispanics and they showed up at the first exchange.
And it is that Jordi Ribera’s troops had a hard time taking the temperature of the game. A classic among these debuts in major tournaments. Montenegro found the goal easy and goalkeeper Nebojsa Simic made the debut bitter for the Spanish gunboats. It took goalkeeper Pérez de Vargas to warm up, also an occasional goalscorer with his precision from distance. It was the spark that activated the Spanish machinery against a theoretically inferior rival.
Dani Dujshebaev and Garciandia found the rival net from nine yards out, but in the Balkan team, Hanover’s right-back Branko Vujovic held up the challenge and Spain paid for his inability to stop Montenegro’s movement down the six-yard line and reduce effectiveness of the spindle Grbovic.
Pérez de Vargas (1), Ángel Fernández (5), Peciña, Gideón Guardiola, Ferran Solé (1), Dani Dujshebaev (4), Garciandia (2) -start seven-. Corrales (ps.), Dani Fernández, Figueras (3), Odriozola (6), Sánchez-Migallón, Tarrafeta (3), Casado, Álex Dujshebaev (4) and Maqueda (1).
Simic (2), Milos Vujovic (2), Grbovic (3), Radovic, Bozovic (3), Cepic (1) and Branko Vujovic (7) -starting seven-. Matovic (ps.), Bakic (1), Kaludjerovic, Stefan Vujovic (1), Lazovic (2), Sevaljevic, Lasica (2), Vujacic and Andjelic (1).
He had to wait until midway through the first half, but Pérez de Vargas’ immeasurable work lowered the posts, aided by the move forward in defence, and Adriá Figueras’ good work scoring goals from the pivot area led to Spain’s demarraje . Montenegro paid for its excessive defensive toughness on lockouts and Spain took advantage of its superior numbers to mount and execute the counter-attack.
With a reassuring four-goal lead (13-9), Jordi Ribera moved the bench. It seems essential to manage the efforts in this comfortable first phase to enter this ‘main round’ with legs in which the Hispanics have the say against the powerful France, Slovenia and Poland.
Despite everything, the duel was kept alive even though the second part started. Left footed Branko Vujovic was a hammer and the difference narrowed to two goals (18-16) with only a third of the game left. The situation cried out for a response and despite the challenge that struck Álex Dujshebaev, he called to be Spain’s differential player in attack due to his huge technical capacity. However, Simic, the rival goalkeeper, as soon as he set himself up as an insurmountable obstacle, he struck from his own goal with surprising shots.
For example, the Hispanics went into the last ten minutes with bated breath, with a paltry yield of three goals. Unexpected scenery a priori, but at least it served to face the first compromising situation of the championship and practice the fights to come. Spain gritted their teeth, Álex Dujshebaev took the lead and Kauldi Odriozola, faced with his big chance due to the injury that left Barça’s Aleix Gómez without a World Cup, did not hesitate from the penalty spot. With a five-goal lead, the outcome was already under control. Objective achieved, with two points against what in theory should be the first phase’s most qualified opponent, but much to refine. The game against Chile next Saturday will be the first opportunity to improve the sensations.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
