Spaniards arrive in Benidorm for the historic first visit
Spain opened the International Tournament in Benidorm with a strong performance, securing a solid win over Romania on the tournament’s first day. The match signaled a confident start to the year as the team sharpened its preparations for the World Championship set for Poland and Sweden from January 11 to 29.
In this sunny tourism city, the event runs through Saturday as a key preface to the global event, gathering national squads for a final tune-up.
Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas carried Spain through the early phase, steering the team after a cautious start from the Romanian side, which took the initiative briefly. The tempo shifted as Spain settled into a steady rhythm, attacking with purpose and pressing the action to turn defense into fast counterattacks.
Ángel Fernández proved sharp in the opening half, helping a squad led by Jordi Ribera to constrain Romania’s pace and limit their scoring opportunities. Spain pressed mistakes from the Romanians, building a seven-goal lead by halftime, 23:16.
In the second half, the Spanish defense remained solid. Rodrigo Corrales replaced Pérez de Vargas in goal and helped maintain momentum, while Agustín Casado and Kauldi Odriozola stood out as top performers for the evening. The team’s collective effort amplified the lead as the match progressed, with a balanced contribution across the lineup.
Hispanics extended their advantage through controlled play and disciplined execution, pushing the score higher as the clock ran down. The head coach distributed minutes among players to keep the squad fresh for the next tests, and Spain eventually claimed a convincing 42-29 victory.
The day’s spotlight remained on the progress shown by the national team as they prepared for their next challenge, with a matchup against Bahrain scheduled for the following day. This competition in Benidorm continues to offer a rigorous test ahead of the World Championship.
The tournament resumes with the second day on Friday, featuring Romania versus Argentina at 16:45 and Spain versus Bahrain at 19:00, both broadcast on national sports channels. [Citation: Federación Española de Balonmano]
Mazón and Benidorm celebrate the Hispanics’ landmark visit
The latest action highlighted a win by Argentina over Bahrain in the opening game of the competition, a tilt that established momentum heading toward the World Cup. Argentina prevailed 31:27 in a tightly contested match that featured a halftime score of 16:12.
Argentina’s approach combined strong goalkeeping from Leo Maciel with dynamic counter-attacks, creating separation from Bahrain and building a lead that mattered in the closing stretches. The Argentine squad demonstrated cohesion and a willingness to execute under pressure, qualities that portend a competitive showing at the forthcoming world event.
The Bahrain side faced a challenging afternoon, with Argentina’s effort and organization proving too much to overcome. Still, the Arab team fought to the final whistle, underscoring the evenly matched nature of the tournament’s early phase. The overall performance underscored the strength and depth of the competing teams as they aim for a strong berth at the global championship. [Citation: Federación Argentina de Balonmano]
DATA SHEET:
Spain: Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas and Rodrigo Corrales; Iñaki Peciña, Jorge Maqueda, Ángel Fernández (5), Álex Dujshebaev (2), Ferran Solé (2), Adrià Figueras (1), Imanol Garciandia (5), Abel Serdio (2), Joan Cañellas, Agustín Casado (6), Gideon Guardiola (4), Ian Tarrafeta (1), Miguel Sánchez-Migallón (2), Dani Dujshebaev (5), Kauldi Odriozola (5) and Daniel Fernández (2).
Romania: Ionut, Bugulet (2), Cristian Ilie, Alexandru, Botea (4), Militaru, Camapanici (6), Nagy (1), Vasile, Racotea (1), Mihai Tarita (1), Calin (1), Negru (3), Ungureanu (4), Buzle (1), Neagu (3) and Stanciuc (2).
Marker every 5 minutes: 3:4, 8:6, 11:8, 14:9, 19:12, 23:16, 27:18, 29:20, 32:22, 37:23, 41:26, 42:29.
Referees: Marko Sekulic and Vladimir Jovandic (Serbia).
Pavilion: Palau L’Illa de Benidorm.