Ambros Martin’s Spain took down 2019 silver medallists Montenegro in Trier to finish top of preliminary group D which concluded at the SWT Arena.

Group D
Montenegro vs Spain 26:31 (11:15)

After a win, but disappointing performance against Paraguay and then loss to the Faroe Islands, Ambros Martin and his new, young Spanish squad showed just what they can be capable of as they dismantled Montenegro to take two points through to Dortmund and the main round, along with their opponents.

Ahead of the game, both sides were confirmed in the next phase so this game was about who would take those precious points through with them.

A solid first half Spanish defence stood firm against a persistent but ineffective 7v6 from Suzanna Lazovic’s side and the resulting, blistering attack punished the Balkan side, notably early in the second period when a run of empty goal strikes ended the game as a contest (18:14, 37th minute and 20:15, 39th minute) 

By the 44th minute the distance had increased to seven (22:15) and then nine five minutes later (26:17, 49th minute).

The result means that Spain now have the balance in overall contest, winning all three of their match-ups in the world championship (Brazil 2011, Japan 2019, Germany/Netherlands 2025).

They top the group, followed by Montenegro and Faroe Islands, all on four points each and who will all now move to Dortmund, while Paraguay end bottom on zero points and go into the President’s Cup.

hummel Best Player of the Match: Alicia Fernandez Fraga (Spain)