The Spanish team suffered its first defeat in the Scandinavian World Cup at the worst time and in the worst way. Czechia passed over the warriors in the fifth match of the championship, when Ambros Martín’s team, after four victories, had in their power to close the pass to the quarterfinals and secure a place in the Pre-Olympic for Paris 2024. Now they will play it all or nothing against the Netherlands, on Sunday (4:30 p.m.).
“We have to get up quickly and if we have to play against the Netherlands, then it will be against them, nothing changes because every game is important; the team has to rationalize this situation, we are very competitive and we are going for it,” he commented Paulina Pérez, the top Spanish scorer with 6 goals (5p).
The Spanish team started the duel well with a 1-2 by Sole López and Paula Arcos in a very difficult start… but the initiative did not last long. Spain weakened in defense and conceded a 3-0 run that put Czechia ahead (4-2) for the entire first half.
The Czechs, with a powerful starting seven, took advantage of quick transitions to pierce Zoqbi’s goal. Spain was only able to equalize the score once (Maitane Etxeberria’s 5-5 from the wing). Every time they got close to a goal, goalkeeper Kudlackova appeared larger than life or Malá or Jerabkova prodded them to re-establish the 2nd safety.
In this irregularity, despite Zoqbi’s 6 stops, the worst thing for Spain was the disconnection they suffered in the final stretch of the first half, in which they conceded a severe 4-0 partial that led them to find themselves 5 down (13 -8), without Ambros Martín stopping the clock. Paulina Pérez, with a penalty, closed the gap before the half-time horn (13-9).
The poor scoring figure was symptomatic, only 9 goals in the first 30 minutes. Kudlackova was largely to blame for his 10 saves up to that point.
At the restart, Spain hit rock bottom after getting close to -3 by Paulina Pérez from a penalty (13-10). The warriors conceded a furious 6-1 partial that left them very touched by Malá’s 19-11, a -8 that Ambros Martín was unable to stop with any timeout or any tactical change.
The coach reacted late by changing the goal, Merche Castellanos for a blurred Zoqbi, and ordering a pressing 3:3 defense.
Spain, more with its heart than its head and its tactical improvement, came within 4 goals (20-16, m. 45) with a 1-5 thanks to the success of Paulina Pérez from 7 meters. But the reaction stayed there, with 15 minutes to go. Jerabkova (9 goals), Cholevová (8) and Malá (7) restored order by stepping on the accelerator and returning the 8-goal lead.
