The second week of the European Golden League And that brings with it the party that makes cold sweats to Space: This afternoon at 7:30 p.m., it is the turn of playing against Croatia. A rival who seems to have taken the measure to Red Lynxes and that every time they face them they know how to neutralize them. That 'something' that seems that it doesn't matter who plays, how they arrive, when they do and the competition in which the faces are seen, the end seems to be written. A 'something', that this year there are reasons to believe that it can end.
The black beast of the Red Lynxes
That June 1, 2019When Spain faced Croatia for the first time, that victory against the team that would later be classified to the Final Four of the European League of that same year was well savored. That time a rivalry was born that would become the black beast of a Spain that every time he has faced the Balkan country, have ended up losing. Only counting the official matches, from that 0-3 where the Red Lynxes took the three points, They have faced a total of seven times when they have always ended up succumbing. And that without taking into account the two friendlies they had only a week ago where they also fell in both 3-1.
The closest can be the defeat that occurred by the fast track in Osijek. The selection, with José Luis Moltó On the bench, the final Four Four of the last European League was played that gave access to continue dreaming of playing a VNL. A match where Croatia herself was already classified by being host of the next phase and in which a victory put everything in the face to be there. And it couldn't be. Like that occasion, another six. In Mediterranean games, Eurovolley and in other European leagues where the face have been seen. A list that has to reach the end.
Álvaro Gimeno attacking Greece's blockade
The reasons for believing in a victory
Just a week ago that Space He began to walk officially under the orders of Hubert Henno And, even if he did it with defeat against Greece, there are reasons to believe in a victory against Croatia. Especially because The team breathes another different atmosphere, with more ambition and hunger to throw barriers that seemed impossible to knock down. As happened in Arta the day after falling before the hosts, The Spaniards knew how to get the character to overcome Portugal. A selection that was not won in the official match since 2018.
They will seek to achieve it in the Dvorana Krešimir iledi of Zadar with capacity for 7,847 spectators, a unique location to achieve a singular milestone. A place to grow with players like Jordi Ramón and Álvaro Gimeno, who with 35 and 31 points, are among the five top scores of the championship. Gunpowder in a delicate time to Croatia, who comes from losing his first two games of the European League: First against Israel and then in front of the Czech Republic. Therefore, in addition to playing to continue in the fight for the Final Four, there are enough reasons to believe that his black beast can be knocked down.
