A year has passed since the last time the lions played against Sweden. They did it during the Golden European League of 2024 and leaving good records of the team that could become. Those of Pascual Saurín forced a Tie-Break in Lund's Swedish city against the hosts. There were several players like María Segura, María Schlegel And a very young Lucia Varelathat although he is still 21 years old, more and more gallons take. A central that last Friday was the top scorer against Croatia and will be one of the weapons against Sweden. And now he has spoken in brand.
We are going to go to match and try to take points at each match to get to the final Four of the European League
ASK. The first thing, congratulations on that victory against Croatia, especially since I was costing you a bit in recent years. How did you feel inside the field?
ANSWER. It was one of those games in which in the end we had to focus more on how we played and in the form of our game rather than in the rival. Croatia also had some decline, he lacked the central and the opposite, and then it was time to focus on us and create a solid game to complicate them.
P.The game began a little countercurrent, the first set took Croatia, but you managed to overcome. What happened there?
R. A little the same. It is true that we started a little mismatch and even a little fearful, so to speak, but then we adapted to the game and having more clear what we had to do and controlling more situations.
Q. I don't know if you are you, but every time you play for Spain there is an atmosphere. Last year was in Gijón, now Alicante, how did the support of Pedro Ferrándiz felt?
R. The truth is that I remembered playing in Alicante, it was a past. The other time also came a lot of people, they made a lot of noise, many people encouraging and playing in Spain are always more cool. People are much more blissful than the rest of Europe and then it is better, I spend it much better.
Q. In addition, your party was an absolute fog. The centrals do not usually have so much interference in the game, inside the field, and you made 19 points. How did you do it?
R. I don't know what to tell you! (Laughs) I felt very good, I felt very connected to Alicante and it was a time to focus on us and think … 'Ok, what can I do?' And before that question, I know that I can contribute to the team in attack and then I tried to focus on making points.
Q. An even more complicated match is now coming against the European League champions, Sweden. Last year you almost won them and on his home, now that the shots have changed and it is in Spain, to see if the result also changes. What will be the keys to win?
R. We are a team that is not afraid of any rival. We now play against Sweden and we know the opposite they have, it is a fact, but we are not saying at any time: 'Uff … Isabelle Haak what he is going to do', but we are thinking: 'Yes, they have Isabelle Haak, but we also also our volleyball and we can harm them in different ways'. We also have our weapons.
Maria Schlegel Blocking with Lucía Varela in Spain – Croatia that was played in the Pedro Ferrándiz de Alicante in the Golden European League 2025
Q. In the distance is the World Cup, although every time it is closer, how are you living the way to Thailand 2025?
R. Living a World Cup with Spain will be something special. In addition, I have never gone to Asia and it makes me very excited. I think of the World Cup, I know that the date is approaching, but it still seems very distant. I know it's going to happen, but I don't really think I'm going to happen to me. You have to also prepare for it, it is something we have present because it is an important date and still I am still very distant.
Q. How do you live it from within? What is Pascual Saurín telling you? I imagine that although the European League is being played, you will also want to get to the top for that appointment.
R. Yes, we know that it is a long summer, that the World Cup is at the end, which is the most important thing about summer. The European League will come very well, in the end they are high -level opponents. In the second period we are also going to find ourselves against Switzerland, Portugal and Georgia, but they are not teams such as Sweden or Croatia, so we must also take advantage of these games to take pace of the game and go a little more prepared when the World Cup rivals touch us.
Q. Do you look eager and capable of reaching the Final Four of ängelholm? Is it the goal you have marked?
R. We are going to go by match and try to take points at each match to get to the Final Four. Let's see if this summer gives … it makes me very excited because I remember how in 2021, when we were in the last Final Four, we got a bronze medal and I have as a very beautiful memory of that weekend. If we could repeat it it would be incredible and even improve it. It is always what we are looking for.
Q. Finally, a message for the hobby you see in Alicante?
R. Nothing, come to see us to Pedro Ferrándiz. For us it is a luxury to play in Alicante and we enjoy it among all a lot. The fans are a pass, we really want to see them on Sunday, that they fill the pavilion and to push us to the victory against Sweden.
