Spain’s Journey to Glory
Spain, the current champions of Europe, had something to prove after a tough sixth-place finish at Paris 2024. Their tournament began with a surprising loss against Hungary, narrowly falling 12-11. However, they made a strong comeback, ultimately defeating Hungary 15-9 in the final.
Alvaro Granados was the star of the match, scoring eight goals and boosting his tournament total to 18. He expressed his pride and renewed spirit after the win, saying, “I couldn’t be happier for this team after such a disappointing summer. This match truly reflects our determination.”
Other key players included Bernat Sanahuja and goalkeeper Unai Aguirre, who made an impressive 14 saves in the final.
Hungary, the reigning world champions, fielded a younger team, hoping their emerging stars would shine. Players like Ákos Nagy and Ádám Nagy showed talent, but in the end, Spain’s experience made the difference.
Meanwhile, Serbia, three-time Olympic champions, faced a surprising ninth-place finish and missed out on the finals. Croatia, the Olympic silver medallists, secured fifth place with a strong 20-8 win against Japan. In a thrilling debut, Georgia beat the bronze medallist team from the United States 17-12, finishing seventh.
