Jordi Ribera has a catchphrase that he constantly remembers: “Spain is a team in formation.” And to round off his message, he continues with “eight players have debuted with the Hispanics in this World Cup.” That will be nine out of 19 when Pol Valera, from Granollers, and second player in the Asobal League in the national team, joins. These have been the first eight to debut:
Inaki Pecina: Pivot. He plays for the French Chambery and is already a veteran. He is 34 years old, born in Irún (Guipuzcoa) and forged in Bidasoa, he was runner-up in Europe in 2022. He has made 43 appearances with the national team,
Imanol Garciandia: Right side of the Hungarian Pick Szeged, born in Urretxu (Guipuzcoa) although forged in Logroño. Until now, his big events were the Mediterranean Games, with bronze (2018) and gold (2022). He is 27 years old and has 31 games with Spain.
Kauldi Odrizola. The third Gipuzkoan on the team, born in Zumaia, trained at Bidasoa, and playing for the first year at Nantes. This is a 26-year-old right winger, who won the silver medal in the 2022 European Championships and won gold in the Mediterranean. He has played 41 games for Spain.
Augustine Married. 26-year-old Central de Carboneras (Almería) who this season plays for German Melsungen and next season for Hungarian Pick Szeged. The hatching of him was the previous season in Logroño, which led him to the national team and to win the European silver. He has played 24 games with Spain.
Abel Serdio. 28-year-old pivot born in Avilés (Asturias) who has only played 24 games with Spain. Trained at Valladolid, he spent a year at Barça and this is his third at Polish side Winsla Plock. He has played 24 matches with the national team and has no medals.
Miguel Sanchez Migallon. Born in Ciudad Real, he is 27 years old and plays for Polish Kielce. He was a left winger, and after making his debut in the elite at Atlético de Madrid, he has become a defensive specialist. He has played 32 matches for Spain and has won Olympic bronze and gold at the Mediterranean Games.
Ian Tarrafeta: Injured in his debut, and out for the entire World Cup, he is 23 years old, trained at Granollers and is a member of the French PAUC. Born in Sabadell, this central defender has played 34 games for Spain, for silver in the 2022 European Championships and gold in the Mediterranean.
Dani Fernandez. The youngest of the selection of only 21 years. He is a left winger from Barcelona trained in the Barça youth system who made his debut at Asobal with Cangas, from which he jumped to the German Stuttgart where he plays for the first year. He has played 16 matches with the national team, and has won gold in the last Mediterranean Games.
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