Norway tests the Hispanic idyll with the semifinals

Norway tests the Hispanic idyll with the semifinals

The Spanish team faces the undefeated Norwegians in search of being in the fight for the medals for the fifth consecutive major tournament

MADRID, 24 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish men's handball team will face this Wednesday (6:00 p.m. / Teledeporte) its first face-or-cross game in the World Cup that is being played in Sweden and Poland with its quarterfinal duel against the always dangerous and powerful Norway.

The 'Hispanics' met their first objective and surpassed the first two group stages, with only one defeat to their credit, the one conceded in their last game last Sunday against France (-), already with the ticket for the crosses secured. Now, the moment of truth arrives with a clash without a net and in which they will try to maintain their idyll with the semifinals of the last big events.

Since 2020, the team led by Jordi Ribera has always been in the fight for medals with a continental gold (2020) and silver (2022), a world bronze (2021) and an Olympic bronze (2021). Proving once again that he is one of the most regular players on the 'handball planet' involves beating a Norway that has been on its way in recent championships and that has not been on the podium since the 2020 European Championship.

The Nordic team is being one of the most competitive in recent years, in which its best successes have come, such as the double world runner-up in 2017 and 2019, or the European bronze in 2020, endorsed by a good generation of players, led by Sander sagosen.

The THW Kiel left-back is one of the biggest stars in the sport and a weapon both in defense and, above all, in attack. The man from Trondheim recovered in time from a serious ankle injury last June and in this World Cup he is once again showing signs of his great quality, both in goals (27) and assists (24).

Stopping Sagosen's impact will be one of the tasks of the Spanish defense, which will also have to keep an eye on a front line that, as usual, has more outside power with players like Goran Johanessen, Harald Reinkind or Christian O'Sullivan, who will put to test Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas and Rodrigo Corrales.

In attack, maximum patience against the powerful physical Nordic in his 6-0, who will try to move Jordi Ribera's men away from the goal and who will seek to cause losses to launch his lethal counterattack with wingers Sebastian Barthold and Kristian Bjornsen. In addition, he will need a lot of precision so that Torbjorn Bergerud does not get bigger in the goal, key for Norway to defeat Germany in their last game (26-28) and enter an appointment with Spain unbeaten, already usual in recent tournaments.

In fact, this clash reissues the quarterfinals of the last World Cup in Egypt where the 'Hispanics' won 31-26, just like months later, in Tokyo 2020, where they repeated their victory, 28-27 and thanks to a penalty. with Aleix Gómez's clock at zero. However, the latest precedent in a major tournament favors the Norwegians, who won 27-23 in the Main Round of the last European Championship, while in their most recent match, last March and in the Golden League, they drew 26-26.

NORWAY: Bergerud (P), Saeveras (P), Sagosen, O'Sullivan, Aga Eck, Barthold, Overjordet, Overby, Toft, Bjornsen, Gullerud, Johanessen, Reinkind, Gulliksen, Grondhal, Blonz y Abelvik Rod.

SPAIN: Corrales (P), Perez de Vargas (P), Guardiola, A.Fernandez, Sole, Canellas, A.Dujshebaev, D.Dujshebaev, Maqueda, Casado, Figueras, Pecina, Odriozola, Sanchez-Migallon, Serdio, Garciandia and D.Fernandez.

--PAVILLION: ERGO Gdansk Arena.

--TIME: 6:00 p.m./Teledeporte.