The ‘Hispanos’ ended their participation in the XVII European Handball Championship yesterday with a painful defeat against Portugal (27-35) which, in addition, left them out of the fight for a direct pass to the 2027 World Cup and condemned them to 11th final position in the tournament standings.
Although it is still difficult to see the Spanish team so far from privileged positions and the fight for medals, the truth is that, in recent years, it is nothing new either.
And after winning bronze at the 2023 World Cup, Spain began its private journey through the desert (with the brilliant exception of bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which is no small feat), immersed in a process of reconstruction and rejuvenation of the group with which Jordi Ribera continues to work.
And the results suffered. And how: 13th in the 2024 European Championship; He reached rock bottom in the 2025 World Cup (18th) and in this recent European Championship he was also far from the privileged positions.
Spain classification
Last international championships
World Cup 2023 – BRONZE
European Championship 2024 – 13th
JJ.OO. 2024 – BRONZE
World Cup 2025 – 18th
European Championship 2026 – 11th
Although they did not have a disastrous tournament (they had a good first phase, with victories over Serbia and Austria and a narrow defeat to Germany; they competed, despite defeats, against Norway and Denmark; and brilliantly beat France in the Main Phase), the final classification dictates the sentence and the feelings after yesterday’s tough defeat against Portugal are not, at all, positive.
Still, Spain closes the European Championship with some green shots. Reasons for hope, above all, for the future.
The championship allowed young players like Ian Barrufet (10 goals against France), Marcos Fis (9 goals against Denmark) or Jan Gurri (established as a starter in the central position, instead of the reckless Agustín Casado) to show some glimpses of their tremendous quality and gain experience to become, sooner or later, the leaders of some ‘Hispanics’ who, despite having a not very optimistic present, They can look to the future with optimism.
His next test: getting a ticket to compete in the 2027 World Cup.
