Spain’s Under-19 national team, featuring standout performances from Galician player Iziar Barcala, secured first place in Group F2 at the Junior World Championships in Cairo after defeating tournament hosts Egypt 2-0 on Tuesday, according to regional reporting. The squad advanced through the group stage following an earlier 2-0 victory against Finland on Monday, positioning the team for a knockout-round clash against Group F1 winners Japan.
Spain Dominates Egypt to Secure Group F2 Leadership in Cairo
The Spanish delegation capitalized on consistent performances across multiple disciplines to sweep the host nation on Tuesday. Opening the fixture, Iziar Barcala defeated Elgendy Hadia 11-1. Guillermo Muñoz and Sofía García then extended the lead to 22-5 in mixed doubles. Sara del Castillo and Inés Poncela widened the gap further against Nour Fikry Eltaweel and Rahima Hussein, bringing the score to 33-11 and sealing the 2-0 sweep that crowned Spain as the top finisher in Group F2.
Opening Victory Against Finland Sets the Tone
The campaign began Monday with a solid 2-0 triumph over Finland at the Cairo tournament, which runs from October 5 to October 10. The match served as an early test for a Spanish roster that previously reached the quarterfinals at the European Championships in Tatabánya. In the women’s doubles clash against Finland, Iziar Barcala partnered with Sofía García to defeat Ananya Kandala and Cecilia Lehtinen 44-30. Guillermo Muñoz and Noelia López subsequently closed out the fixture against Sam Lindberg and Unni Parikka, securing a 55-41 scoreline to wrap up the opening team victory.
Upcoming Quarterfinal Match Against Japan
Finishing at the summit of Group F2 earns Spain a direct matchup against Japan on Wednesday. The Japanese side advanced to the knockout stages as the winner of Group F1. The winner of Wednesday’s contest will progress directly to the tournament quarterfinals in the Egyptian capital.
