The ‘Guerreras’ defeat France as a serious boost for the European Championship

The Spanish women’s handball team beat France (27-28) this Friday in the penultimate test ahead of the European Championship that starts next week, a boost of confidence against the world champions and silver at the Paris 2024 Games.

Ambros Martín’s team, a new team led by Danila So Delgado (7 goals), won in Saint-Étienne to break into the pools of the continental tournament. Spain will now have another friendly on Sunday against the Czech Republic before traveling to Basel, where the European Championship will begin on the 28th against Portugal.

After the loss of the Olympic Games, where the ‘Guerreras’ left without winning a game, after a first stop of preparation with two heavy defeats in Sweden a month ago, the renewed Spanish team gained momentum against one of the favorites of the European Championship and rival of Martín’s in the preliminary phase.

Despite being trailing in the first half after the 6-1 with which the match began, the ‘Guerreras’ shook off their nerves and respect for their rival, and found the necessary adjustment and intensity in defense to be able to run in attack to knock down the resistance under Laura Glauser’s sticks (15-13). After the restart, Spain continued to progress and grow in the game.

So Delgado, 23, sealed the comeback ten minutes from time, in an exciting ending where the host received the extra from Clarisse Mairot from the bench. Carmen Campos, Ona Vegué, Paulina Pérez Buforn and Eli Cesáreo were also important in attack, although it was Anne Erauskin who sealed the Spanish victory in the French Tournament that will continue on Sunday with the last test.

TECHNICAL SHEET:

–RESULT: FRANCE, 27 – SPAIN, 28.

–TEAMS:

FRANCE: Glauser y Sako -en portería- Horacek (2), Zaadi Deuna (1), Grandveau (1), Flippes (1), Déborah Lassource (1), Mairot (1), Kanor (2), Nze Minko (4 ), Toublanc (3), Coatanea (1), Valentini (6), Coralie Lassource (2), Foppa (2) and Ondono.

SPAIN: Nicole Wiggins and Nicole Morales -in goal-; Carmen Campos (3), Elba Álvarez (2), Carmen Arroyo (2), Paula Arcos (1), María O’Mullony, Ester Somaza, Danila So Delgado (7), Ona Vegué (4), Jennifer Gutiérrez (1) , Paulina Pérez Buforn (3), Anne Erauskin (2), Paula Agulló, Eli Cesáreo (3) and Kaba Gassama.

–REFEREES: Ruud Geraets and Paul Geraets. They excluded Carmen Arroyo in Spain. And to Coatanea, Zaadi Deuna and Coralie Lassource in France.

–PAVILLION: Saint-Etiene Arena.