Young Guerreras made his debut with a victory at the European Championship

The Spanish women’s team, much younger after the Olympic fiasco Paris Games

(average age 24 years), debuted with a victory over Portugal (30-24) in European handball and added its first two points to Group C based in Basel (Switzerland).

Young women “Warriors” They open their new path with a positive result, continuing those good feelings that they left last week in Tournament in Saint-Etiennewhere they defeated the mighty France (27-28) and tied to Czech Republic (30-30), another competitive selection.

Thanks to this victory over the Portuguese Spain takes the first step towards the second stage, a goal he will try to achieve in the next two games, which on Saturday will be very difficult against France and more feasible on Monday earlier Poland. The first two will continue.

Be that as it may, the new block formed Ambrose Martinwith only six Olympians out of 18 called up for the European Championships, dealt well with the usual opening nerves and played a very proper match considering nine players were making their debut at a major championship.

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Carmen Campos (8 goals), Paula Arcos (6), Esther Somaza (5) and She’s Vega

(4) distinguished himself in the Spanish attack, while Nicole Wiggins (9 stops and 31% success) and Nicole Morales (3 and 43%), the new pair of goalkeepers also performed at the proper level on the court.

There have also been important changes in defense, now with Carmen Arroyo as the “boss” of the center of defense next to Lindy Chaptchet or Kaba Gassama. The reaction of young women in this sensitive area is no less interesting. In fact, a global project is created mainly for the medium term and will have to go through stages with patience.

Arcos scored the first Spanish goal in the first game of the European Championship, and Campos made it 2-0 early Isabel Christina Gois appeared with such force that “Guerreras” remained dry for 10 minutes. Four saves from the Portuguese goalkeeper resulted in a 0-5 scoreline that exposed the difficulties of the match: 2-5 in the 12th minute.

Wiggins accepted the duel, and the appearance of the goalkeeper forced her teammates to react (7-6 in the 16th minute). Joana Resendethe most determined opponent, with eight goals, led another Portuguese attack (9–12 in the 28th minute), but Guerreras’ electric strike leveled the score at half-time with the score 3–0, signed by Vega (12–12).

Wiggins in goal, Arroyo in defense and the courage of Campos (8 goals), Arcos (6), Somaza (5) and Wege (4), the best news of the premiere

Spain further improved their defense in the second half and Somazascoring five goals without errors, showed all his confidence and joined the Campos y Arcos lead on the first line: 22-19 in the 48th minute. Portugal still threatened to spoil the evening (22-21), but Morales contributed his grain of sand, Arroyo stole the valuable ball and Gassama

finally sealed the victory: 25-21 in the 52nd minute.

Portugal arrived more tired in the final period and did not take advantage of Gutierrez’s sending off five minutes before the end (25-23), which could still have changed the outcome of the match. Fieldswith his eighth goal, calmed the team to 26-23, and Spain even made a noticeable difference, thinking about possible future tiebreakers (30-24).

Technical sheet

30 – Spain (12+18): Wiggins (Morales), Erausquin (1), Perez Buforn (1st place), Carmen Campos (8th, 1st place), Paula Arcos (6), Jennifer Gutierrez, Gassama (1) – starting team-; Wege (4, 2 points), Esther Somaza (5), So Delgado (1), Bernabe, Prieto O’Malloni (1), Lindy Chapchet, Arroyo (2) and Agullo.
24 – Portugal (12+12): Goiz (Ferreira), Duarte (1), Souza (4), Sabino (2), Unjanque (2), Sequeira (1), Monteiro (1) -starting team-; Lopez, Silva, Lima (1), Nadia Rodriguez (1), Patricia Rodriguez (3, 2 points), Rebelo, Costa and Joana Resende (8).
Judges: Ozren Bakovic and Mirko Palakovich (Slovenia).
Exceptions: Gutierrez, Chapchet (Spain); Sousa, Sabino and Silva (Portugal).
Marker: 2-0, 2-4, 5-6, 8-8, 9-10, 12-12 (rest); 14–14, 16–17, 19–18, 24–21, 25–23 and 30–24 (final).
Incidents: The match of the 1st day of Group C of the European Championship between Austria, Hungary and Switzerland took place at the St. Jakobshalle stadium in Basel (Switzerland) in front of about 2,700 spectators.