Jordi Ribera: "The team is aware of what we are at stake"

MADRID, 28 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish handball coach, Jordi Ribera, has assured that, despite the sadness over the defeat in the World Cup semifinals against Denmark, the team is "aware" of what is at stake this Sunday against Sweden in the match for third place , although he has recognized that the "fatigue" and the long "trip" from Poland may be "an important factor".

"There is a component of fatigue, yesterday was a tough game, and the quarterfinal match was tough too. The trip is also an important factor. After 24 hours, the team will be aware, and it already is, of what that we are at stake. Sweden is in the same circumstances, they play at home, with their fans, so they will want to finish the competition well. We are all going to want to win that game," he said in statements provided by the Royal Spanish Handball Federation (RFEBM ).

About the Swedish team, the Catalan coach explained that "they have lost a bit of their reference in the center, which is an important piece." "But all the teams have had players who have fallen by the wayside and others who are touched and it shows," he said.

"It is a team that has grown a lot in recent years, with renewal with people who have very good shooting, with goalkeepers who have very good effectiveness. It is a very tough team in defense, with a really aggressive 6-0 that does not let you build the actions, and very close behind. It is a very complete team and we will need our best version to beat them", he pointed out.

For his part, the international Alex Dujshebaev appealed to forget Friday's defeat and think only about the duel against the Swedes. "Nothing can be done anymore, we have to think about the game, that it is a bronze medal. We have to fight, give our best to get it and leave our skin, as always, on the field", stressed the right-back.

Regarding the Scandinavian team, he stressed that it was "one of the clear candidates to be in the fight for the medals before starting the championship." "They are a great team that has great players on all lines. They have great goalkeepers, a great defense, in attack they have players in the front line with shots, they also have very good one-on-ones, pivots and wingers...", he listed. .

Finally, Kauldi Odriozola assured that the bronze medal would be "a very nice prize to finish the World Cup". "Yesterday it couldn't be, we tried in every way and gave it our all on the track. It's a shame not to get that pass to the final. We are already thinking about the game against Sweden, which will be very difficult. They play at home in front of 22,000 people, but we have a very nice chance of getting a bronze", concluded the right winger of the 'Hispanics'.