It was an almost unthinkable scenario before the start of the Men’s European Roller Hockey Championship. Portugal lost on Wednesday for the third time in a row, in Paredes (3-1 with Spain), and ends the group stage of the tournament in the last place in Group A. will now face Andorra in the quarter-finals, but with the weight of installments far below the status it has and with many accumulated insecurities.
The games against Spain are always the most demanding in roller hockey. In this sense, a defeat against a direct rival, who is always a candidate to win trophies, cannot be seen as a surprise. But the accumulation of bad results and unconvincing exhibitions gives it an added weight.
The Portuguese coach, Paulo Freitas, made some rotation (starting with the goal, where he played Guga instead of Xano) and the first part was relatively shared, with opportunities from side to side. Spain came out on top, with a goal from Martí Houses in the last five minutes. And at 7 ‘of the second half the Reus player torn, ripping alone since the push.
Portugal still managed to respond, with a penalty goal, by Gonçalo Alves, but Nil Roca even replaced the Spanish advantage, 10 minutes from the end, and confirmed the victory in Group A, as well as Portugal’s last place, behind France and Italy.
Agastado, Paulo Freitas acknowledged in the end that the selection has not been competent, but says he has already envisioned signs of improvement, noting that he remains intact to win the European title.
For this, Portugal will have to defeat on Thursday (21h45, RTP) the much more modest selection of Andorra, which won Group B (ahead of Switzerland, Austria and Germany). If you can, you will measure forces with Spain the next day, this time for access to the final of the competition.
