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Although it was already clear before this match that Spain had no chance of reaching the semi-finals, “La Furia” once again showed why they are known as a team that never calculates. With no white flag and no easing off, Jordi Ribera’s men entered the clash with France fully motivated, determined to leave a strong impression until the very end of the championship — and they completely outplayed “Les Bleus,” winning 36:32.
The opening of the match brought total balance on the scoreboard — for the first 15 minutes it was goal for goal, with neither side able to create any real advantage, and the score stood at 8:8. However, midway through the first half Spain found their rhythm. After a 4:2 spell and a renewed lead of 10:8 in the 17th minute, “La Furia,” led by Jan Barufet, struck a first significant blow by moving to +3 (11:8), forcing Guillaume Gille to call a timeout.
Even the minute’s break did not spark a turnaround for France — quite the opposite. Tough, highly disciplined Spain kept the same tempo and, with a 6:1 run, surged to a commanding +5 (14:9) in the 20th minute. “Les Bleus” simply could not find their desired rhythm, and the first half belonged entirely to Spain, who went into the break with a convincing 20:14 lead.
As if the halftime score had reset to 0:0, Spain came out for the second half with the same intensity and maximum focus. With no trace of luxury or relaxation, “La Furia” patiently built their attacks, relying on a compact, well-organised defence and once again a brilliant Sergey Hernández in goal. That approach quickly paid off, and in the 36th minute Spain reached a huge +7 (23:16), making it clear that the control of the match remained firmly in their hands.
Still, the reigning European champions did not drop anchor. France responded with a 4:0 run to cut the deficit to just three goals (23:20) and briefly bring back some suspense. Spain’s answer was immediate and decisive — two straight goals restored a comfortable +5 (25:20) in the 43rd minute, stopping the French momentum before it could truly develop.
The game then unfolded in mini-runs toward the finish, with the key moment coming in the 55th minute when Spain once again pulled away to a safe +5 (33:28). It was a gap France could no longer close, further complicating their fight for a semi-final place. As things stand, their fate will no longer depend solely on them — first they will have to wait for the outcome of tonight’s Denmark–Germany clash (20:30), and then the final verdict in this group will be known after their derby against Germany in the last round, on Wednesday.
The hero of Spain’s win was Jan Barufet with 10 goals, while the outstanding Sergey Hernández finished the match with 14 saves. For France, the most efficient scorer was Aymeric Min with seven goals.
Spain – France 36:32 (20:14)
Spain: Hernández (14 saves), Biosca (0); Serradilla, Gurri 5, Casado, Tarrafeta 4, A. Dujshebaev 2, Odriozola 1, Garciandia 2, Serdio 4, Fis 1, D. Dujshebaev, Gomez 5, Romero 1, Fernandez 1, Barrufet 10.
France: Bolzinger (5 saves), Desbonnet (9); Lenne 1, Minne 7, Bos 2, Prandi 2, Richardson 1, Mem, Tournat 4, Fabregas 3, Descat 5, Kounkoud 1, Peleka, Nahi 3, Konan, Briet 3.
