Spain is out of the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 32 years

The Spanish roller hockey team made negative history at the World Cup in San Juan.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
11 November 2022 Friday 08:35
9 Reads
Spain is out of the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 32 years

The Spanish roller hockey team made negative history at the World Cup in San Juan. For the first time in 32 years, since the 1991 edition, Spain will not contest the semifinals of the world championship, falling in the quarterfinals against France on penalties. It is the second time in history that he will not be among the top four in the world.

The Spanish team fell in the penalty shootout against France in the quarterfinals after finishing regulation time with 4-4, and after trailing the entire match.

Guillem Cabestany's team got off to a bad start when they conceded from Carlos di Benedetto's 0-1 in the 7th minute on a counterattack.

Ferran Font equalized the duel in a direct free kick, which he put into the top corner, after a foul by Bruno di Benedetto. Even so, the Spanish reaction did not materialize and France scored 1-2 with Roberto di Benedetto's goal taking advantage of the rejection of his own shot in a penalty previously saved by Sergi Fernández.

After the break, the French made it 1-3 with a half-turn goal from Carlo di Benedetto. After conceding the third goal, Spain have had plenty of clear scoring chances but have run into defenders or goalkeeper Baptiste Bonneau.

With 6 minutes to go, Pau Bargalló deflected a cross to close the gap and give his team hope (2-3) and in the last minute, playing desperately with five court players, without a goalkeeper, Ferran Font scored the 3-3 that led to extra time.

In extra time the tables were maintained, with goals, first from France, by Roberto di Benedetto, and then by Pau Bargalló, with three minutes remaining, which sent the duel to penalties.

In the penalty shootout, France scored their first shot and Spain did not convert any of them.

Spain: Sergio Fernández (P), Ignacio Alabart, Pau Bargalló (©) Nil Roca and Xavier Barroso; Xavier Malián (P), David Torres, Ferran Font, Sergi Aragonés and Toni Pérez.

France: Baptiste Bonneau (P), Bruno di Benedetto, Roberto di Benedetto, Mathieu Le Roux and Carlo di Benedetto; Pedro Miguel Barbosa (P), Leo Savreux, Rémi Herman, Anthony Da Costa y Antoine Le Berre.

Goals: 0-1 Carlo di Benedetto (7); 1-1 Ferran Font (16); 1-2 Roberto di Benedetto (23); 1-3 Carlo di Benedetto (27); 2-3 Pau Bargallo (44); 3-3 Ferran Font (47); 3-4 Roberto di Benedetto (56); 4-4 Pau Bargallo (57).

Referees: Filippo Fronte (ITA) and Joseph Silecchia (ITA). They taught Bruno di Benedetto blue.

Track: Aldo Cantoni from San Juan (Argentina), before about 1,000 spectators.