The Krakow European Games, beyond the competition and distribution of medals related to it, has a special importance in some sports in an Olympic key. One of them is the rugby sevenswhere are the single window for European teams to continue fighting for qualification for Paris 2024 Games.
The champion of each gender gets a direct place for the French event, as this tournament is the European Pre-Olympic. In addition, the second and third classified get a place for the World Pre-Olympic. This event, therefore, it was the only door for Spanish rugby in that Olympic fight.
However, Spain experienced this Monday a severe blow to the level woman. The choice was left with any option to play the Olympic Games in Paris after giving up quarter finals against Czech Republic (12-17). This defeat, therefore, leaves Spain without any option to play in the Olympic event next year.
Spain started this Sunday with group stage victories over Romania (41-0) and Sweden (36-0). They closed the first stage with great sensations this Monday morning against Belgium (29-7) to lead group C with a complete victory. However, everything depends on some quarterfinals where they were forced to win against the Czech Republic, a priori inferior. rival, to stay alive in an Olympic key.
The Czechs won 12-17 against a nervous Spain, noting the importance of the game. The team was completely outscored in the first half (5-17) and scored only one try in the second, in the final minute. In this way, he was also left out of the World Pre-Olympic and his Olympic aspirations were over.
The boys, in the semifinals, will play it this Tuesday
Continuing the Olympic battle is the group of men. This Sunday they beat Belgium 26-12 and the Czech Republic 40-12 in group B of the first stage, closing this Monday with a 35-7 win over Georgia to advance to the quarterfinals.
Theirs, Spain gave Italy no options, with a great game in which they won 36-7. The Spaniards signed a superb first half in both defense and attack and, at 24-0 at the break, they had no problem proving their success in the second half.
So, Spain will enter the semifinals this Tuesday. Great Britain awaits them. A victory would secure the Pre-Olympic, while a loss would force medals and Olympic survival to be played in the bronze medal match.
11 Spanish athletes have been classified for the Paris Olympic Games
-3 athletics (not nominal places, because their minimum places may be exceeded by other colleagues): Diego García Carrera (20 km walk), Álvaro Martín (20 km walk) and María Pérez (20 km walk)
*In the marathon, the minimum quota of six (three men and three women) is met, but they are not automatic places for Spain as they depend on the final ranking.
-5 rhythmic gymnastics: Ana Arnau, Inés Bergua, Mireia Martínez, Patricia Pérez, Valeria Márquez and Salma Solaun (group, made up of six gymnasts, although only five will be on the team)
-2 archery (non-nominal places): Miguel Alvariño (individual recurve and mixed team recurve) and Elia Canales (individual recurve and mixed team recurve)
-1 Olympic shot: Fatima Galvez (trap)
The
-Sports without sorting options: women’s rugby sevens
Source: La Verdad
I’m Jason Root, a professional writer working with Today Times Live, the premier news website. I specialize in sports writing, covering the biggest stories in the world of athletics. With an eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, I provide engaging and informative articles that capture the key elements of any event or issue. My work has been featured on numerous respected websites and publications around the world.
