Portugal, the team with the most trophies (21), and two-time champions Spain (18) are the ‘expected’ finalists of the European Roller Hockey Championship, which takes place in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, in Barcelona.
Spain is looking to win the ‘tri’ in Catalonia, following triumphs in A Coruña in 2018 and Paredes in 2021, while the Portuguese team is looking to reclaim a trophy it last won in Oliveira de Azeméis in 2016.
In the current league system, with a stage to be eliminated (as the competitive system has been in a championship for many years), Portugal and Spain have met in the finals seven times, in a history that leans favorably to the ‘roja’ selection, with five wins and two defeats.
Portugal and Spain will again play the final of the second round of Group A on Saturday at 20:45 (Lisbon time), which ended with a 3-3 draw, as well as the final of the Euro 2018, in A Coruña, which ended with the home side winning 6-3.
The Spanish team arrive at the final more tired, as they were forced into ‘extra time’ against Italy, who only conceded in the shoot-out on penalties (3-0), needed to unlock the 4-4 draw that saw the game reach regular time and, later, extra time.
Portugal, on the other hand, defeated France 5-2, in a game in which goalkeeper Pedro Henriques, who defended two penalties and a direct free kick, and Gonçalo Alves, in realizing set pieces, played the leading role.
The final between Portugal and Spain at the Olímpico de Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, which hosted a leg of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games (in which roller hockey was an exhibition modality), will be preceded by the third and fourth place match between France and Italy (5:30 p.m.).
In the second half of the table, Switzerland will face Germany at 3:00 PM in the allocation game for fifth and sixth positions, while England and Andorra will discuss seventh and eighth places at 12:30 PM.
Switzerland won 2-1 against England, under Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira, with goals from Pascal Kissling and Gregório Boll, against one from Ryan Barnes, and Germany beat Andorra 2-0, avenging their 6-2 group stage defeat.
Source: DN
