‘Hispanics’ won 18 medals

The Spanish handball team won the bronze medal after a very close match with Slovenia that was resolved by the limit (23-22) at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, full despite the match being played at nine o’clock in the morning. This is the eighteenth, and probably the last, medal for Spain at these Olympic Games. from Paris and will arrive on closing day.

Fate wanted Spain to play for the podium against Slovenia, the first rival it faced in this Olympic tournament in Paris, on July 27. Then Spain won 25-22, but in two weeks many things that may change.

The men of Jordi Ribera They ended an irregular tournament in the best possible way, finishing with four wins and three losses, against Sweden and Germany (twice). After all, the fifth Olympic medal for Spanish handball, always bronze, reaffirming what they already got three years ago in Tokyo.

The contest was very close in the first half, with the defenses, and especially the goalkeepers, determining the low score. The attacks fell Ferlin (37% effective in the first 30 minutes) and Gonzaloand the advantages never exceed two purposes.

Spain found air in the extremes – four goals were contributed by Dani Fernandez and Odriozola– while Slovenia is supported by the Blaugrana Blaz Jancall quality, which he defined based on actions of pure individual talent (4 goals in the first 30 minutes).

At the end of this first half, Jordi Ribera’s men put themselves on the road after a counter attack that ended with Dani Dujshebaev (12-10) but a clock penalty to zero converted by a Dolenec made no mistake (3/3 from seven meters) established a new tie at half-time (12-12).

Balance continued on restart. Although Spain has a pull, hand in hand Serdio on the pivot or with Sanchez Migallon striking from the left wing, he was unable to break the barrier of a two-goal advantage as Slovenia produced the rubber again and again, establishing a series tie through a Wow letting go of his arm with conviction.

Slovenia took advantage of electronics for the first time in a long time until it appeared Alexwho until then only came out to convert penalties with his usual solvency, scoring two winger goals in a row (from 19-20 to 21-20). And a new tie after a penalty from a Dolenec with surgical precision in this luck (5/5). 21-21 with less than four minutes left.

One in the lime and one in the sand: goal from Serdio (22-21) and then two minutes exception to Sánchez Migallón after an action on Blanc. Vlah, generous, sent a very high free throw and then scored Alex Dujshebaev: 23-21 two minutes away. Dolenec converted his sixth penalty with 1’20” on the clock and in the following attack they whistled for a foul on Aleix, which Serdio had to carry as he hurt himself stepping on the spot . 25” to play and ball for Slovenia. Forced release of Mackovsek to the limit and stop Gonzalo. Bronze and happy ending.