Spain’s women’s handball team advanced toward the World Cup quarterfinals with a 30-23 victory over Argentina, a win that moves them closer to the pre-Olympic tournaments staged across Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The result masked a tense first half, during which the Guerreras trailed 12-13 and faced a challenging opening to the match. In the second half, Spain found its footing, tightening defense and lifting its pace to seize control of the game.
The early stage showed Ambros Martín’s squad struggling to impose their rhythm. The central defense initially formed by Lara González and Lysa Tchaptchet, and later the tandem of Lara González with Kaba Gassama, found it difficult to contain Giuliana Gavilán and her teammates. This struggle was reflected not only in the four goals from standout Amara Bera Bera in the first half but also in how easily the Argentine attack rebounded and kept the score tight.
Spain’s transition game suffered from a lack of defensive cohesion that prevented the Guerreras from unleashing their natural speed. Every time a run appeared possible, Argentine goalkeeper Marisol Carratú stood tall to snuff it out, making quick work of Spain’s advances. The static nature of Spain’s attack, plagued by fouls and the physicality of Argentine players, reduced clearance and fluidity, hindering the team’s ability to stretch the tempo and pressure the defense effectively.
Merche Castellanos delivered an exceptional performance in goal, helping Spain scratch ahead to a 7-5 lead after ten minutes. Yet the team’s shape and finishing in attack still lagged behind, and despite Castellanos’ timely saves and the efforts from Lysa Tchaptchet and Kaba Gassama, Argentina pushed back to tie the score at 12-12 as the first half ended, with Malena scoring on a rebound after Cavo’s shot. The opening minutes of the second period revealed a shift as Spain began to stabilize defensively and reinforce its collective strength.
With the defense firing on all cylinders, Ambros Martín’s side limited Argentina’s chances to a single goal in the first eight minutes of the second half, while Spain finally began to move with purpose. The improved defensive order opened space for faster transitions, allowing the Guerreras to press forward more decisively. Still, the team’s finishing remained imperfect as they pressured the opponent with relentless drives but were thwarted repeatedly by Carratú’s saves and by a few imprecise attempts from the six-meter line.
Midway through the second half, the game pivoted. A pair of back-to-back counterattacks by Alicia Fernández and Maitane Etxeberria helped Spain surge into a four-goal lead at 20-16. The scoreboard showed a growing confidence within the squad, yet the match demanded caution as the Argentine side fought to the end.
Even with the lead, Spain did not rest. They continued to press, but a few mistakes crept in, with shots missing the target from close range and a few turnovers that could have cost them. Yet the leadership and composure from players like Sole López and Paulina Pérez kept the attack alive and sharpened the final push. López, in particular, stepped up as the primary scorer for Spain, while Paulina Pérez added crucial goals that extended the advantage as time ebbed away.
The decisive moment came late, when Spain extended the cushion to six goals, 25-19, then finished the game strongly to seal a 30-23 victory. This result not only earned a win on the opening day of the group stage in Arena Nord in Fredrikshavn but also elevated Spain’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals and advancing toward early Olympic qualifiers.
Data sheet: Spain’s lineup included Castellanos; Etxeberria (7), Mireya González (1), Arderius (5, 3p), Arcos, González de Garibay, and Tchaptchet (2) in the starting team, with Zoqbi, Campos, Lara González, So Delgado (2), Sole López (3), Gassama (1), Alicia Fernández, Paulina Pérez, and O’Mullony (2) appearing as substitutes. Argentina’s side featured Carratú; Cavo (2), Ayelén García (1), Gavilán (8), Pizzo (2, 1p), Karsten (3, 2p), Dalle Crode, and a supporting cast including Rosalez, Rivadeneira, Romero, Campigli, Brodsky, Learreta, Gandulfo, Bono, and Casasola, with Campigli receiving a direct red card in the 34th minute. The match took place as part of the World Cup’s second stage in Denmark, Norway and Sweden and was hosted at Arena Nord in Fredrikshavn, Denmark.
Source: World Cup reports confirm the venue and match details, underscoring Spain’s resilience and tactical adjustments that turned a difficult first half into a commanding second-half performance.