Key Factors in the Spain-Sweden Match
The Spanish handball team’s ability to come back from a six-goal deficit against Sweden can be attributed to two main factors: the team’s honor and coach Jordi Ribera’s strategic decisions. With 20 minutes left in the game, Ribera made a crucial technical decision to attack with seven players and no goalkeeper, which caught the Swedish team off guard.
This bold move, combined with the team’s rotation and freshness, allowed Spain to take advantage of Sweden’s weaknesses and score crucial goals. The coach’s decision to change the defense from 6:0 to 5:1, with Ian Barrufet as a forward, also played a significant role in neutralizing the Swedish player Lagergren and reducing the difference in the score.
Coach Ribera’s Strategy
Ribera’s strategy was well-thought-out, and he knew exactly what he was asking of his players. The use of a 5:1 defense, which the team had been working on for a long time, was a key factor in their comeback. As Ribera emphasized, “The team has been ten in fighting, fighting and wanting to win a game in which it seemed that everything was lost.”
The coach’s ability to make adjustments and try new things, such as the seven-on-six attack, was also crucial in breaking the Swedish team’s schemes and giving Spain the opportunity to come back. As Ribera explained, “I think that both the change in defense and the seven-on-six attack have broken their schemes a bit, but something had to be changed and with enough time for it to work.”
Upcoming Match Against Norway
Tonight, the Spanish team will face off against Norway, a highly demanding team that is in trouble after qualifying for the main phase with zero points. Despite their difficult situation, Norway has been leading the scoreboard in all their games and will be a tough opponent for Spain. Coach Jordi Ribera is aware of the challenge and has a strategy in place to take on the Norwegian team, led by star player Sander Sagosen.