A Spain with a stone in its shoe, with a pants of a small size, with the shirt inside out, an uncomfortable Spain, very uncomfortable in this World Cup, experienced its second annoying match yesterday, although this time it ended in victory.
After their draw against Brazil, a single goal, scored by
Joan Cañellas
in the final moments, changed the result against Poland, but did not undo the uneasiness.
In fact, only the inexperience of the rival team forgave the pressure in the last Spanish attack and avoided a new shock.
If they also beat Tunisia on Tuesday, this Sunday's victory will allow the team to reach the second phase with three points and play their place in the quarter-finals against Germany and Hungary.
That is to say, it will remain on the expected path before the tournament begins, although at that time such discomfort was not conceived.
As it happened against Brazil, Spain combined lucidity and obfuscation, but this time in another way: if two days ago they lacked rhythm, movements, ideas, against Poland they simply lacked aim.
In a magnificent performance by the rival goalkeeper,
Adam Morawski
, the pivots and the wingers had opportunities, but only one of them,
Ángel Fernández
, transformed them into goals.
The others, especially
Adrià Figueras
from six meters, despaired.
In the tournament so far, the team led by
Jordi Ribera
has not found any particularly lucid player, no one sweet, and thus it only remains to hold onto the veteran of some such as Cañellas and, above all,
Raúl Entrerríos
.
At 39, there is justice in the captain's departure because in sport, as in life, only a few leave when they want.
As did his brother Alberto, retired after his second World Cup, the little one from Entrerríos will abandon handball with power over the game, always capable of executing his own inventions.
Despite the discomfort that Poland generated, if Spain gained an advantage in the first half (11-14 at halftime) and if later, in the second, they did not lose on the scoreboard, it was thanks to him.
Although the rest failed, he gave them balls and more balls - Spain made 51 pitches and Poland, only 38 - and when there was no other remedy, he became a pitcher.
With Cañellas as an ally, he scored two essential goals and organized the last attacks.
There, Fernández's success and Cañellas's decisive goal emerged, which was answered by Poland 50 seconds from the end.
What happened next, a passive Poland in the face of the last Spanish attack, has no other explanation than the generational change that this team is experiencing.
Semifinalist in the Rio 2016 Games and in the 2017 World Cup, the retirement of the
Jurecki
brothers
, Karol Bielecki, Krzysztof Lijewski, Mariusz Jurkiewicz or Sawomir Szmal
expelled her from the elite for a few years, until the generation that is already emerging.
With players like central
Michal Olejniczak
or full-back
Szymon Sicko
and
Tomasz Gebala
, all under the command of
Talant Dujshebaev
at Kielce, their future will be on the podiums, although this Sunday they were left half in their disgust for Spain.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
sports
handball
FOOTBALL The story of Gauthier Mvumbi, the viral revelation of the World Cup: "Call me 'El Gigante'"
EHF Champions League: Barça's Tenth Champions League will have to wait
EHF Champions LeagueBarça defeats PSG and will play in the Champions League final
See links of interest
Coronavirus Spain
Napoli - Fiorentina
Aston Villa - Everton
Sheffield United - Tottenham Hotspur
Crotone - Benevento
The final of the Super Cup, live: Barcelona - Athletic