New-look Spain open with win as Paraguay battle all the way

Spain coach Ambros Martin handed world championship debuts to no less than eight players as he saw his young team labour to a win in the opening match of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship at the SWT Arena in Trier, Germany.

Group C
Spain vs Paraguay 26:17 (15:9)

2019 silver medallists Spain saw a quite literal changing of the guard on court in Trier with global debuts for Lyndie Tchaptchet, Elba Alvarez, Ona Vegue, Maddi Bengoetxea, Lucía Prades, Anne Erauskin, Carmen Arroyo and Ester Somaza as they did just enough to see off South American side Paraguay.

Ahead of the game, Spain’s Maitane Echeverria received a special shirt presented to her by Royal Spanish Handball Federation (RFEBM) President Francisco Blázquez García to acknowledge the right wing making her 100th appearance for the side, but there was little else to celebrate at the end of the match, the muted celebrations from the European side hinting that they know more is to come.

While the game was short of spectacular moments on either side, it was just what the much-changed Spanish side needed: two points, a squad rotation and no injuries.

The same can not be said for Paraguay, coached by Marizza Faria who played at the same venue back at the 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship.

She lost key player Delyne Leiva early on (11th minute) after the centre back landed badly on her left arm, later coming out after half-time with her elbow wrapped in ice, while the experienced line player Sabrina Fiore left the court wincing in pain early in the second half not to return again too after Spain captain Alicia Fernandez had landed on the Paraguayan defender’s outstretched leg by accident.

By that time, Fernandez’s side were six ahead (19:13, 44th minute) the game was over as a contest, it was the same difference they had led by at the break (15:9), mainly thanks to 13 turnovers from Paraguay and a lack of effectiveness in front of goal which had seen Lucia Prades end the half with a 40% save rate in goal.

While coach Martin may have more questions than answers to his new-look squad after this match, the opening game has been completed and his side moves on, preparing to face Faroe Islands on Friday (28 November). Paraguay will face Montenegro in the earlier clash.

hummel Player of the Match: Danila Patricia So Delgado-Pinto (Spain)