It took almost two decades for a team to successfully defend its European title. In Stockholm, Spain took over from Sweden, champion in 1998, 2000 and 2002, and could also match the record of Denmark, which went up four times to the continental podium between 2002 and 2008. "We deserved it after the hit of not going to the Games from Rio. All of us who had that spike were stuck, "said Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, author of eight stops in the win against Croatia (22-20).
"We have had patience and consistency at key moments. Also that bit of luck needed. The team has worked very well throughout the championship," said Raúl Entrerríos, minutes before raising the trophy at Tele2 Arena. In the memory of the captain, that unexpected help from Igor Karacic was still floating, with inexplicable steps a minute to the end.
The bitter memory of not being able to travel to the Olympic event in 2016 also referred to Pérez de Vargas. "All of us who had that spike were nailed," reiterated the goalkeeper, included in the ideal team of the championship, like Jorge Maqueda.
"In the end we showed that we were a little cooler," added the Barcelona player, referring to the effort of the Croats in the semifinal, where they had to resort to two extensions against Norwegian. "Gold is totally deserved and the finishing touch to an almost perfect championship, because the draw at the close of the Main Round was almost unimportant," Pérez de Vargas finished.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more- handball
- more sport
- sports
- European Handball
HandballThe more mature Spain aspires to everything in the European
HANDBALL The sky as a passing station: Spain, in the European semifinals for the fifth time in a row
European handball Eternal Spain: lifts its second European followed by another goal from Dujshebaev