Chema Rodríguez: These guys are amazing

„As I said before, these guys are amazing. We always say that we are like a family, we are together, and we fight together. We were six goals down and the Icelandic fans made it feel like we were playing in their country. The guys believed that with hard work we can win, and they worked and fought until the last minute and step by step they won this game. I'm happy for my team because they were able to finish the match like this” – Chema Rodríguez praised his athletes.

„The problem was that despite playing well in the first half, like in the previous game, we had a lot of good opportunities, but their goalkeeper made several saves, and the rebounds went in their favor. At one point they led 17-12, but during the break I told them that they had performed well. Then, in the second half, we said we would continue with what we had planned because we like to do a good job. And that's what happened, the boys believed in themselves, attacked and defended as planned, and Roli was amazing in the last 10 minutes. That's how it is, we got closer and closer and finally we got there” – the coach from Spain recalled what had happened during the match.

„This is my first being a national team head coach, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. But to win like this, from six goals down, in front of these fans – I think it's a wonderful result. It's my favorite match at the moment” – said Chema Rodríguez when asked if it was his favorite match of his coaching career.

MEN'S WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
GROUP STAGE, ROUND 2
GROUP D (Kristianstad)
ICELAND–HUNGARY 28–30 (17–12)
Kristianstad, 4615 spectators. R: C. Bonaventura, J. Bonaventura (France)
ICELAND: GÚSTAVSSON 1 – Gudjónsson 3, MAGNÚSSON 7 (4), Jónsson, Gíslason, Pálmarsson 3, ELÍSSON 9. Substitutes: Hallgrímsson (goalkeeper), T. Kristjánsson, G. Kristjánsson 1, VIDARSSON 4, Smárason. Head coach: Gudmundur Gudmundsson
HUNGARY: R. MIKLER – P. Rodríguez 4, G. ANCSIN 6, Lékai 2 (1), BÁNHIDI 3, Szita 4, Bóka 3. Substitutes: M. Székely (goalkeeper), A. Sipos, BODÓ 3, Hanusz, Z. Ilic 1, Ligetvári, M. ROSTA 4 (2), Sz. Szöllősi. Head coach: Chema Rodríguez
Final result minute by minute. Minute 2: 3–1. 3: 6–6. 14: 8–8. 21: 13–8. 24: 13–10. 34: 20–14. 39: 23–19. 47: 25–24. 53: 28–25
Exclusions: 6, and 10 minutes
Penalties: 4/4, and 4/3

LAST GROUP MATCH OF THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL TEAM
January 16, Monday
8.30 pm: Portugal–HUNGARY (TV: M4 Sport) – live on NSO!

fordította/translated by: Vanda Orosz