Palacio de los Deportes de Riazor – A Coruña | July 17th, 2018
The fourth day of the 53rd Men’s European Championship of Roller Hockey kicked off with England facing a weak Belgium in a group B match, in which the Belgians received yet another pounding, although this time they managed to score their first two goals in the competition, thus ending with a final result of 14-2. The other morning game, from group A, was Austria against France, which started with great offensive tactics from both teams so in only four minutes four goals had already been scored, 1-3 favorable to the Gallic. Even though they were late to get into the game, it finished with a clear 3-14 with every field player scoring.
Three games were in store for the afternoon, with an even Switzerland-Andorra from group A to begin. The Helvetians took an advantage in the first minute an so it ended the first period. After the break the goals started to kick in, Andorra managed to even out the match but Switzerland scored right after. Finally, Andorra turned the tables in their favor achieving their first win in this Eurohockey2018.
Next came the game that brought Spain and Germany from group B face to face, initially the most complicated game for the hosts until date. However, and despite the Germans tenacious start, the first half ended with five to one due to Alejandro Domínguez’s team command. Two more goals in the second half concluded the game with a definitive 7-1.
In the last match of the day, corresponding to group B, Netherland surprisingly put Italy to work during the first half, so Massimo Mariotti’s players only won by 1-4 and even during the beginning of the second half the Dutch managed a 2-4. But the Italians pushed themselves and tipped the scales clearly to their favor ending with a decisive 4-15.
Group A is still leaded by a solid Portugal, who had a rest day, followed by France, both unbeaten but the Gallic with one less match. In B, Italy and Spain are dueling for the first place so they can avoid Portugal in a hypothetical semi-final.
The schedule and matches for the 5th day are the following:
10:00 a. m. | France – Switzerland
12:30 p. m. | England – Netherland
5:30 p. m. | Italy – Germany
8:00 p. m. | Belgium – Spain
10:00 p. m. | Austria – Portugal