Spain’s handball players started the European Championship and German Group A with a hard-fought 29:27 (19:15) victory. The Serbs missed the surprise due to too many crucial mistakes in the final phase.
The two-time European champion, supposedly the DHB team’s strongest opponent in the preliminary round, prevailed with two goals against Serbia in Herning, Denmark and took a first step towards the main round. The Iberians will face the German team of national coach Alfred Gislason in the last group game on Monday (8.30 p.m./ZDF).
Backcourt player Ian Tarrafeta was the Spaniards’ best scorer with six goals, as they are chasing their third European Championship title after 2018 and 2020. After a strong start and a quick four-goal lead, coach Jordi Ribera’s team didn’t let any tension build up for a long time, but had to tremble again in the final phase. Sergey Hernandez (SC Magdeburg) was there in the crucial moments and prevented a Serbian surprise.