Palacio de los Deportes de Riazor – A Coruña | July 21st, 2018
The eighth and penultimate day of the Eurohockey was opened with Belgium-Netherland that began with four goals in just seven minutes with a 1-3 favorable to the Dutch to reach the break with 2-7. The Belgians were not rivals, who ended up yielding 3-15 in a match without history, so Austria and Netherland will decide tomorrow who is ninth and tenth, as Belgium will finish eleventh.
In the semifinals of consolation, between the teams that fight for the positions five to eight, began with the morning England-Andorra in which the Principality led in the first half with a 0-4 that did not leave, which was confirmed in the second period with the final 2-8.
In the other match, the first of the afternoon, Germany was ahead very soon 1-3 against Switzerland, but it was tied at halftime. A second part with constant alternatives left a new draw (5-5), so it was going to the extension where, after facing the Teutons, the Swiss led by the Asturian Alejandro Rodriguez turned the score at the last minute of the first period of extra time, leaving the definitive 7-6 already immovable that the Germans failed to neutralize in the last five minutes. Thus, England and Germany will play tomorrow for the seventh and eighth places (12:30) and Andorra and Switzerland will play at 15:00 for the fifth and sixth.
Next, the first semifinal of the 53rd European Men’s Roller Hockey Championships. Spectacular encounter that we have offered Spain and France, although Alejandro Dominguez had a hard time entering the same because after the first goal in the 17th minute of Nil Roca, Carlo di Benedetto tied seven minutes later and so much of his brother Roberto put the French ahead at half time. Spain went all out in the second period and three almost consecutive goals by Ferran Font and Eduard Lamas twice placed the 4-2. From there, France collapsed, unable to stop the goal festival of Alejandro Dominguez, who scored four more by Ignacio Alabart, Pau Bargalló twice and Nil Roca, leaving the final 8-2 and pass at the end of tomorrow at 19:30 hours after a game attended by the Secretary of State for Sport of the Government of Spain, María José Rienda, who at the end of it visited the changing room of Spain and congratulated players and body technical next to Carmelo Paniagua (president of the R. F. E. P.), having both a brief encounter with the media in the press room of the Palacio de los Deportes.
And the match with which concluded the penultimate day of the competition was the second semifinal. Portugal started as a favorite and went ahead on the scoreboard, but Italy regained control of the match and managed to turn it around at the break which was reached with 1-2 favorable to those of Massimo Mariotti. However, Portugal took a step forward and threw itself against the goal of Leonardo Barozzi, who succumbed to João Rodrigues and Gonçalo Alves from the penalty shot, so Luís Sénica’s team were a little calmer with the 4-2 they could reduce Giulio Cocco, but he missed the direct foul.
With a Portugal failing countless clear chances until the last minute, Rafael Costa left the final 4-2 so the final will be the expected between the host team, Spain, and Portugal tomorrow from 7:30 pm while France and Italy will fight for the bronze at 17:00.
10:00 | Netherland – Austria
12:30 | England – Germany
15:00 | Andorra – Switzerland
17:00 | France – Italy
19:30 | Spain – Portugal