Hispanics ensure their classification for EHF Euro 2026 after beating Italy 29-33 in the Palazzetto dello Sport De Fasano. In the absence of a day, the team of Jordi Ribera has achieved ensure your pass to the continental competition placing itself group 4 first with 8 points and a single step to qualify with the first assured position. To certify it, they must win the Sunday, May 11 in Huesca a Latviaagainst whom he won a victory of 29-38 In his first confrontation. Classifying as first would mean accessing the raffle with more favorable clashes.
The meeting started the 19: 00h in it Palazzetto dello Sport De Fasano With a failed Italian possession. The pupils of Jordi Ribera they recovered the ball to open the marking with a goal through the center transformed by Ian Tarrafeta. The transalpine set did not take long to respond and write down a Goal from 7 meters. After the first appearance under sticks of Domenico Ebner – Who already hurt the Spaniards in the first leg – The second for the Italians arrived. Ian Tarrafeta He assumed the commanders of the offensive and transformed the second against a very aggressive 3 × 3 defense to tie the score and thus begin a first part of a lot of equality.
The following minutes kept the tonic, with a constant goals exchange and a mandate of the Spanish First Line With the appearances of Agustín Casado e Imanol Garciandia. However, Jordi Ribera’s defense was punished with three 7 -meter releases in the first 10 minutes. XAAN LEDOwho debuted with the absolute selection in 2013, appeared under sticks to stop the third of them and increase the motivation of a set willing to ensure the pass the European Championship.
Italy took the 6 meter pivot and tried to break the Spanish defense with 4 players in the first line to Not being able to write down for 6 minutes and finish the First quarter with a result of 5-9. Thanks to A very good offensive tactic of the Spaniardsthey managed to paint on the scoreboard a partial of 0-4 that allowed them to take some advantage.
Rodrigo Corrales imposed his law under the three sticks next to a XAAN LEDO that there would be arrested 2 of 3 punishments from 7 meters. However, a series of launch failures and the effectiveness of Italy in the 1 contra 1 and the game with Andrea Parisini In the pivot they allowed the locals to overcome the distance and put a single goal below (10-11) in the 23rd minute. Jordi Ribera then made the decision of Empty goal and play 7 contra 6 to try to recover the lost advantage. With a very deep Spanish defense, the pupils of Bob Hanning They imposed individual actions successfully, but Hispanics managed to leave when rest with a result of 14:16.
-The second part started with a most closed Spanish defense To try Correct the offensive that more damage had done to them in the first half: Actions of 1 against 1 and game with open pivot. The Spanish attack shone in a match in which The goals were distributed among all positions. Victor Romero It appeared to demonstrate that pivots can also run counterattacks, highlighting both in attack and defense within the Spanish team. Rodrigo Corrales I kept shining under sticks to help keep the distance on the scoreboard and see a 19-22 in it minutes 40.
A series of consecutive errors from Italy allowed Hispanics to come up and place 20-25 In the absence of 15 minutes. Italy responded taking advantage of the exclusion of Sánchez-Migallón To try to cut the distance and, thanks to actions of Simone Mengon y Andrea Parisiniget a result of 23-26 in it minute 50. The locals were willing to exhaust all the options to take the game, so they imposed a Individual Defense To try to recover as soon as possible the ball. Spain, however, knew how to keep calm and attack this situation correctly.
Thus, the horn sounded and the electronic closed with a 29-33 what assures the Jordi Ribera selection the EHF Euro 2026 ticket. Although with this victory they are placed in the first position of their group with 8 points, To make sure they must win the last day against Latvia. Hispanics have played a brilliant match in almost all of its aspects, demonstrating the high level of the selection, the importance of new talents and the desire to play the next European Championship.
Jordi Ribera: “I’m happy because they were two very important points”
The coach states that “It has been a game to play minute by minute. We have been very good to be ahead on the scoreboard in the first minutes, although We knew it was going to be a very long game“Taking victory was fundamental to a selection that had long been demonstrating a high level, as Jordi says:”I am happy because there were two important points”. With an eye on aiming as high as possible, “Now, the Latvia party to ensure the first place that would give us more possibilities and advantages in the raffle”.
Photograph: Italian Handball Federation / Luigi Canu
