Jordi Ribera assesses qualification for the main round after defeat to Germany
The coach of the men's national handball team, Jordi Ribera, expresses satisfaction with his team's performance after losing to Germany (34-32) in the European Championship. He emphasizes that the key objective of qualifying for the next round has already been achieved. Ribera is confident that the team will evolve and aim for the highest goals in the upcoming matches of this new stage. 🏐
Balance of the initial phase
The national team secured its spot in the Main Round by defeating North Macedonia and Montenegro in its first two matches. The setback against the German team, although it halts the positive streak, does not block the progress. Ribera highlights the good atmosphere in the locker room and the attitude with which they will face the new challenges, where they will try to accumulate wins to contend for the semifinals.
Keys to advancement:- Two initial victories against North Macedonia and Montenegro.
- The defeat to Germany did not prevent qualification for the next phase.
- The team's morale and mindset described as optimal.
The main objective, which was to qualify for the Main Round, has already been fulfilled. Now it's time to grow and aspire to the maximum.
Focus on new challenges
The team now faces a renewed group in the Main Round, with higher-caliber opponents. The loss to the Germans serves as a lesson, but the coach prefers to focus on what has been achieved and the capacity to progress. The message is direct: qualification is secured, and now it's time to compete to advance as far as possible in the tournament.
Aspects for the new phase:- Matchups against higher-caliber opponents in the Main Round.
- The defeat to Germany is taken as a learning experience.
- The focus is on improvement potential and competing at the highest level.
Coach's final perspective
Ribera downplays the importance of not being able to carry over the two points from the victory, stating that this does not affect the national team's final aspirations. In elite sports, sometimes you lose to win later, although conveying this idea to the fans after a close match can be complex. The confidence in the project and the team's evolution remains intact. 🎯