2023-07-23 20:36:19
The European achieved by the Spanish team this past Saturday in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia had a clear Catalan flavour. Most of the squad (10/11 players), including the coach, Guillem Cabestany, was born in Catalonia. In the middle of this mix, too it can be said that the victory in the final and, therefore, the title, has obvious touches of the Girona regionsspecifically from La Selva and Garrotxa. The Grau brothers, Carles and Marc, from Lloret, and Marc Julià, from Olot, played a prominent role in the decisive match of the World Cup.
Spain’s third consecutive continental title is largely to blame for these three Girona natives. Grau and Julià were key to the two goals to defeat Portugal by 4 to 2 and lift the champions’ trophy in front of 1,500 people at the Ateneo. Carles Grau started as a starter under the posts. Cabestany chose the Barça goalkeeper to stop the Portuguese attacks. The Portuguese team had a lot of offensive talent, without going any further, the top scorer of the tournament (10) was Gonçalo Alves, author of the two goals in the final.
In the opposite goal, Marc Julià and Marc Grau scored, with a double each, the four goals for the selection. Despite starting from the bench, they were key to the final victory. The tear-jerker, responsible for opening the scoring, was Marc Grau. With the estím at the ready, he caught a pass from goalkeeper Pedro Henriques after Marc Julià’s shot to score the first goal. With his back to the play, the Barça player showed an instinct, a sense of smell, which demonstrates his quality.
It wouldn’t take long for the wild man to see the goal again, he wanted more. The second target, however, would not arrive until the second half. The ‘9’ of the Spanish national team would take advantage of a pass from Bargalló, just on the verge of ending the numerical superiority that the reds had, to score the second. His footprint in the final was already total.
The turn then would be for the other Marc, the garrotxí. The Reus player, who had already had a good season in red and black, with 27 goals in 25 games, would score two more, both from direct fouls. Olotí is a specialist in set-pieces and he drove Ateneu Agrícola crazy with a direct foul from a very talented player. Hook, counter hook to finish lifting and chopping the ball. Julian’s talent and technique.
Although the duel seemed to be on track, Portugal reacted and got within just one goal. Julià would appear again to score the fourth and definitive goal, the one of tranquility, the one of the title. Again lifting and hitting the ball. Once with the title in his pocket, Julià did not waste time to claim the merit of the title and the value given to roller hockey at Cadena Cope: “This sport is not recognized as it deserves. Nevertheless, this victory is a sign that we are doing things well».
And indeed the national team and the three Girona players have done very well. Marc Grau leaves as the team’s top performer and Marc Julià and Carles Grau have also more than fulfilled their goals. The vacation and the title under the arm are well justified.
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