The hypothetical differences that arise between the Spanish and Argentine were not reflected on the scoreboard, in this opening of the second group of the Women's Handball World Cup, until the expulsion of the Argentine Campigli was decided and Sole López appeared in Spain, with two goals, and the score went to 18-16 and then to 19-16, and there Argentina was already losing.
The drift of Spain, winner in the four games it has faced in this World Cup that is being held in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), is being impeccable: the three games of the first group and this Wednesday, against Argentina (30- 2. 3).
The final stretch, with the warriors in cyclone mode, took things back towards the realm of logic.
The Spanish women have been up there for years, flirting with World Cup success (bronze in 2011, silver in 2019), something unthinkable in the case of the Argentines, without outstanding performances in the great international showcase.
Even so, for forty minutes, Argentina had been standing up to the Spanish, cautious in the first half, uncoupled in defense and determined to put balls inside, for Lisa Tchapchet, a strategy that only half worked.
At half-time, the score was eloquent: 12-13 for the Argentines, a partial that had led the coach, Ambros Martín, to sit his players down to propose solutions.
The response had been immediate, when Spain was projecting a more dynamic structure, driven by its bench depth, to disconcert the Argentines, suffocated without Campigli, already at their limit.
The victory, led by the seven goals from Maitane Etxeberria and the five from Silvia Arderius (MVP of the match), allows the Spanish team to lead the second phase and consolidate one of the two places that lead to the quarterfinals, where they enter I play the Olympic places. Next stop, this Friday against the Czech Republic (6 p.m.).
