The Spanish team opened the Golden League with a decisive victory, defeating the Netherlands 39-28 in a match that marked a memorable international debut for the Cikusa brothers. The 17-year-old twins, Djordje and Petar, each finished with four goals, underscoring that age is merely a number in high-level handball.
Aries Jordi Ribera demonstrated a willingness to blend seasoned veterans with promising newcomers. Pivot Gideon Guardiola was supported by young talents like Cikusa, who had just turned 39 last October, illustrating a strategy that values both experience and fresh talent.
Djordje, playing at right-back, entered the action in the 23rd minute and became the youngest player to represent the Spanish national team in the last four decades, at age 17 years, 10 months, and 22 days.
His twin brother, center back Petar, waited a little longer to get his first minutes for the senior side, coming on at the start of the second half as a substitute for the game director Agustin Casado. Petar quickly showed why he is considered one of the brightest prospects in Spanish handball, delivering a bold display of courage and skill.
Petar produced an immediate impact, delivering electric one-on-one moves and a sharp hip thrust that captured attention. The young defender matched his brother’s energy, contributing to a performance that began to tilt the scoreboard as the first phase of the game progressed.
The Cikusa brothers added four goals and one assist to a Spanish effort that surged in the opening minutes. Spain, who had struggled to find rhythm in the first half, built a lead in the early minutes of the game and used that momentum to separate themselves from the Dutch team.
By a five-goal lead (30-25) in the middle of the second period, Ribera’s squad displayed the defensive solidity that was lacking earlier and began to control the tempo. The victory also opened the door for a more confident connection with pivots and a smoother transition game, although the Dutch side remained competitive in the opening half, tying the score in several moments before the late surge.
A notable turning point came when Spain, despite some early transitional issues in the first thirty minutes, tightened its defense and improved goalkeeper play, limiting the Dutch attack to only nine goals after halftime. Sergey Hernández, who had an important role in the goalkeeper rotation, contributed to the solid defensive effort that sealed the win.
The performance clearly showed that Ribera trusts alternatives and young players as Spain prepares for upcoming challenges against some of the world’s best teams. The Danish squad, the current world champions, will be the next opponent for the Spanish team on the schedule, with a crucial match slated for Saturday afternoon.
Data sheet: Spain’s lineup featured Pérez De Vargas, Aleix Gómez, Garciandia, Dani Dujshebaev, Peciña, Casado, and Ángel Fernández among the starting group. Sergei Hernández provided a late substitution, with Solé, Figueras, Gedeón Guardiola, Sánchez-Migallón, Chema Márquez, Odriozola, Dani Fernández, Gurri, Djordje Cikusa, and Petar Cikusa also contributing to the scoring column. The Dutch team started with Ravensbergen and Schagen, followed by Niels Versteijnen, Steins, Stavast, Ten Velde, and Kooij. Arjan Versteijnen, Blaauw, Schoenaker, Kooijman, Geenen, Jorn Smits, Smit, Claessens, Kay Smits, and Houtepen made up the remainder of the squad. The teams traded scores at five-minute intervals—3-3, 6-6, 10-8, 11-11, 15-14, and 19-19—before Spain pulled away with 24-22, 27-23, 29-25, 33-27, 36-27, and the final 39-28. Referees Kleven and Jorum (Norway) oversaw the match; Spain’s Gedeón Guardiola and Sánchez-Migallón were issued two-minute suspensions, while Dutch players Kooij, Claessens, and Schoenaker received similar sanctions.
The game was staged on the opening day of the Golden League at the Sotra Arena in Straume, Norway, marking a strong start to the tournament for Spain and a memorable debut for the Cikusa brothers, who demonstrated the depth and potential of Spanish handball for fans and analysts alike.