To a Spain that has won four medals in the last four international championships (European gold in 2020, Olympic bronze in Tokyo 2020, world bronze in 2021 and European silver in 2022), reaching the second round of the World Cup in Poland and Sweden is almost a requirement. The one imposed by Jordi Ribera and the dressing room, although only they know how difficult a tournament has every year with 32 teams that go up and up and up. But they are already in that second phase and another path begins, one more thorny because there are spikes like France, Slovenia and Poland, but also more exciting because another podium is on the horizon. For track records and because the players do not want anything else. This is how Spain plays, with ambition.
And that’s how he played yesterday, against the uncomfortable Iran and the gigantic Siavoshishahenayati in goal – who arrived as the third best goalkeeper in the tournament, left with 35 goals. As Gideón Guardiola told this newspaper, he had prepared for the match with the same intensity with which he will prevail to face Poland on the following day. Because a priori Iran could be less important than the national team, but Ribera wanted it to be reflected on the track. Not a mistake.
There was not even in those beginnings of the game that sometimes cost Spain. He pulled from initial calm and combinations. The defense anticipated the rival attacks and recovered balls in each play. Income of four goals (6-2) in the first eight minutes. And even so: “We’re very good, but we didn’t go down for a second, huh,” Maqueda yelled in the first timeout. They entered well and continued better, with an Iran out of position in the face of the Spanish gale, off-center in the passes and that gave away mistakes to extend the advantage in each play.
At twenty minutes, Ribera to the fore, change of team so that the minutes at the end of the classification add the same. People talk about a team in Spain because there is a sum of individual talents. Pérez de Vargas, implacable in goal; Guardiola, outstanding in defense; Álex Dujshebaev, effective in pitching; Cañellas, director of passes; decisive Maqueda; unattainable Kauldi Odriozola… Seriousness, joy, little wear and tear, the perfect sum. The best Spain in the championship.
The two points against Iran were almost taken for granted, passing with the maximum (4), but this clash, the way, the feeling, also increases motivation and confidence. There were very good minutes and excellent minutes. A ten-goal advantage (21-11) at half-time that was imposed with a filigree between Ferrán Solé and Joan Cañellas. Thirty first perfect minutes that also add pressure on the rivals, no matter how much they are called France or Slovenia. Even Poland suffered against Saudi Arabia to qualify.
To prevent Iran from finding a way in the second half: two consecutive saves by Pérez de Vargas. And more bleeding in attack with Dujshebaev, Cañellas, Figueras hammering Robat Sarpoushi after defeating Siavoshishahenayati morally in the first half. And even so: “For what may happen, we press now,” Cañellas spurred. The goals will help in the future and even more the sensations. Spain is demanding even with a 14-goal difference, with robberies and robberies and robberies to despair the Iranians, Veselin Vujovic shouted in the band.
There was not a moment of respite on the part of Ribera’s men, smiles at the end because Spain is already in its best version and in the place it wanted: second phase, the challenge, the demand, the road to medals.
