After both teams saw their Paris 2024 Olympic Games dreams evaporate on Friday evening with their second defeat each in a row, Argentina and Czechia played out a competitive encounter in the penultimate game of the Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament #2 in Torrevieja, Spain on Sunday afternoon.

With Czechia failing to get their engines running at full speed in their opening two games, they started brightly early on, taking a seven-goal lead into the half-time break and never looked back.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on France this summer, thoughts will immediately move to eyeing Los Angeles 2028 and next time, a direct ticket to the global sports extravaganza.

Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament #2
Czechia vs Argentina 41:33 (23:16)

A second time out from Argentina coach Eduardo Gallardo just four minutes into the second half highlighted the issues surrounding the South American side as the European team quickly extended their seven-goal lead to 11 inside four minutes (27:16).

This pause stemmed the flow and Gallardo saw his exciting side gradually claw it back to seven (20:27, 39th minute) but with two superb performances against the Netherlands and especially Spain in a 24-hour period, combined with the team only arriving together a day before, tiredness set in as the game got away from them in the last quarter.

For Czechia, the game was a much-needed shot in the arm after two disappointing performances, first against Spain and then Netherlands.

Time and time again they saw the centre of the Argentina defence open in front of them, allowing Czechia and Marketa Jerabkova in particular easy shots on the impressive goalkeeper Marisol Carratu, who ended the half with just two stops and being replaced by Fatima Ayelen Rosalez before the opening 30 had ended.

Jerabkova ended the opening half with six strikes from six shots and powered ahead in the second, sitting on a perfect 10/10 going into the last quarter, before ending with 14 from 15 attempts.

Argentina have shown time and time again here in Torrevieja their potential and with the fluidity of Elke Karsten, Malena Cavo and Micaela Casasola in attack backed up by Carratu in goal, they are more than a match for any team – just ask Spain.

However, this game was a bridge too far and Czechia exploited it ruthlessly as Dahl and his squad now move their thoughts towards the EHF Women’s European Championship later this year.

In total, 74 goals were scored in a match which was not one for fans of defence, but with continuous applause around the arena for the closing minutes, the fans inside the arena showed their appreciation for both the teams who left everything on court.
            
hummel Player of the Match: Veronika Mala (Czechia)