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Jorge Dargel
Updated
The 2004/05 generation is already part of handball historynot only Spanish, but also in the annals of this sport. After achieving the title of champion European and World champion in the youth category in 2022 and 2023respectively, has achieved their third consecutive title with the European Under-20 Championship. No one had been capable of such a feat until today.
ANDl Junior European that has conquered the Spanish team has been almost immaculate. Curiously, Their only defeat was against Portugalby a single goal in the main phase. But In the final he did not give the Portuguese team a chanceleaving The match was almost over at half-time with a seven-goal lead. A textbook defensepressing, with help and legs, left a rival without ideas, incapable of overcoming a real wall. In addition, The attack was led by an immeasurable Ferrán Castillo, well escorted by Petar Cikusa, Víctor Romero and Xavi González.
After a An even start, the Spanish defence, with Grau as the leader, He tied up a Portugal without ideas, not even taking their goalkeeper off the court to attack with an extra player. Something that the ‘Hispanos Junior’ punished with several goals with the rival goal uncovered. In addition, they caused numerous losses or inaccuracies that they took advantage of to counterattack to gradually increase the difference in their favor.
A Portugal was overwhelmed, but it also did not know how to stop the offensive onslaught of Spaincommanded wonderfully by Castlewho finished the final with eleven goals to his credit without a single failure, and by his faithful squire in the front line, Petar Cikusa. But it would be unfair not to highlight the work in attack of Víctor Romero, unstoppable in the pivot, and Xavi González and Ian Barrufet from the ends.
He score 13-20 at half time was a faithful reflection of what was seen in the first half. But the feelings of both teams did not foresee a reaction from Portugal against Spain. With that good difference, the ‘Hispanos Junior’ handled their advantage perfectlywhich reached eight goals. Not even a trace of reaction from the Portuguese team, thanks to the good work of its best man in attack, Oliveira (11 goals) made the Spanish players nervous.
He Portuguese team made up for the result adverse in the final stretch against a Spanish team led by Javier Fernández ‘Jabato’, who gave minutes to all its members in the final minutes to celebrate a brilliant victory. Another title for another golden generation of Spanish handball after winning their third consecutive championship. The ‘Hispanos Junior’ of the Cikusa brothers, Castillo, Barrufet, etc., are already thinking about the next tournament: the 2025 Junior World Cup.
