Thursday, August 8, 2024, 1:30 p.m
It was not possible to cover the paper format, although it had a chance to win in each match, the men’s handball team ended the Olympic handball tournament with one win and four losses and did not reach the quarterfinals. We discussed the events with captain Chema Rodriguez, we talked about compensating for the difference in playing skills, paper form and bravado, referees and bad luck.
“Before the tournament, we looked at the group, which probably couldn’t have been more difficult to put together, and we felt we could do it. Then, in the last match against the defending champions, the hosts, the French, we felt that we could do it. Of course, I was sensitive at the end when I didn’t succeed,” said Chema Rodriguez to the MOL Team.
Chema spoke through tears after the elimination (Photo: MKSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“I also really wanted to advance, but I really felt terribly sorry for the guys. They worked hard all summer, we arrived at the Olympics in excellent condition, and we held our own against all opponents, even if we were lucky, we could have won against all of them. Going home after that… what can I say, heartbreaking.”
Individually at the bottom, as a team at the top
How strong the men’s handball team is as a team is best shown by the fact that, while Hungary was at the bottom of the Olympic field in terms of collective playing power, thanks to its ability to fight and team unity, it competed with the best. Moreover, it is not an exaggeration to say that we had a chance to win in every game.
“A bit of luck was missing! The order of the matches wasn’t the best either, it wasn’t lucky to start with Egypt, then in the key moments of the matches, sometimes a controversial referee’s decision, sometimes a movement decided between victory and defeat. And unfortunately always to our detriment”
– sighed the captain.
We had a chance to win against everyone (Photo: MKSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“We eliminated our disadvantages as much as we could, and we felt that we would be worthy challengers to everyone. We jumped this step, but the next level would have been to beat a team ranked higher than us, and unfortunately we didn’t succeed. However, since we didn’t succeed because we didn’t give everything, I can’t blame the boys.
“There was nothing left in us, we put everything on the field.”
Very little has passed
Ours started with a defeat against Egypt, and even though they defeated Argentina in vain, it was clear that not only a great feat was needed to advance, but also luck, since with the defeat against the Africans, our fate was somewhat out of our hands. That’s how we went into the last three games, where we lost against Norway in quite amazing circumstances, we beat Denmark thoroughly, and then we had plenty of chances to win against France in the decisive match.
The captain consoles Imre Bence after the match against the Norwegians (Photo: MKSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“With the exception of Argentina, the other teams are better than us, their squads are stronger, almost all of them play in the BL, and we have our own structural problems. Our defense worked well in almost every match, but we had problems in attack, but I still say that if we were a little bit luckier, we could have been in the quarter-finals.”
We asked the captain what, in addition to the known circumstances and problems, was the reason why he was unable to advance. Chema thought about the answer for a minute and then replied. “The first game. That was very important. Or it would have been.”
We got out of Egypt after a serious roller coaster ride (Photo: MKSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“If you get the move in the first match in a tournament like this, it helps you overcome many problems. You ride the wave and everything seems easier. However, we unfortunately lost, and in addition to the fact that it was already felt that luck was not helping us, our advancement was also questioned in the first match, and we carried this heavy burden throughout.”
We had the chance all along
The Spanish specialist suddenly couldn’t even say in which match he liked his team the best. Chema believes that since almost all of our opponents consisted of significantly better players individually, he was very proud of what his team showed on the field for a longer or shorter time in each match.
“Against the Norwegians, we worked very well both in front and behind, we accomplished everything we wanted, and there is nothing more painful than losing a match like that. The Danes prepared to score a couple of goals, then play the second half with the substitutes, but they couldn’t do it, we made them use their full strength throughout. And there was the match against the French”
the captain gloomed.
“And when a few more weeks pass, and I no longer have to watch the Olympic handball tournament on TV, our performance will certainly be seen in a different light, but right now it’s still hard to see the positives. We really wanted it, we gave it everything, we reached the threshold of success, but we couldn’t cross the threshold. And in the end, that’s all that matters: we didn’t succeed.”
We had the chance against the French (Photo: MKSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“I think we deserved to advance, not the host!” stated Chema. “We were ready for a miracle and it was in our hands, but in such situations, under such tension and pressure, every referee’s decision is of utmost importance. And unfortunately we are not there to get better conditions against the title defender and host, in front of more than twenty thousand fans,” said the captain, who did not want to go into details.
Continue on the path you started
“It is not an empty slogan that we are a family. This is how we operate: we help and support each other, but we are honest and critical, and we give our all for common goals. But what is really beautiful about this team is that they can dream together. We lived this dream, after a great European Championship and then a cathartic Olympic qualifier, we really traveled to Paris believing we could do it.”
Some regular players may say goodbye (Photo: MKSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“I’m sad, a little angry and very disappointed,” sighed the captain. “I can’t blame anyone, as I said, we did everything we could, and it wasn’t the work we put in, the belief in victory or the will to fight that was lacking, but luck. It took very, very little time to reach our goal.”
“The Olympic cycle is over, this is when the time of reckoning comes. Overall, I think our team is on a very strong foundation, the path we started on is good and promises a lot.
“But we have to improve in everything, we have to continue to work as we have been, and then this team will give us a lot of joy. I believe that it will happen!”
Source: molcsapat.hu
