Almost all head coaches of the European teams that qualified for the World Championships have changed the rosters between the continental championships in Croatia and the Worlds in Doha.
Spain, the European champion, isn’t an exception. Head coach David Martin announced the team today, adding two players who didn’t participate in winning gold in Zagreb.
One significant return to the team is the experienced Czech-born defender Martin Famera (35), who missed the Europeans because of injury. A few years ago, he gained Spanish citizenship after previously representing Slovakia. Famera was one of the key players of the national team since 2021, contributing to Spain’s medal-winning performances in 2022 and 2023.
Besides Famera, a new name compared to Zagreb is Fran Valera, who was on the rosters at the 2023 World Championships and World Cup and the 2022 European Championships.
Famera and Valera are replacements for Alberto Barroso and Blai Gomilla. Barroso wasn’t among the players invited to the Doha preparations.
Spain at the 2024 World Championships
Goalkeepers: Unai Aguirre (Barceloneta),Eduardo Lorrio (Sabadell).
Field players: Unai Biel (Barceloneta), Alejandro Bustos (Barceloneta), Sergi Cabanas (Jug), Miguel De Toro (Barceloneta), Martin Famera (Barceloneta), Alvaro Granados (Novi Beograd), Marc Larumbe (Barceloneta), Blai Mallarach (Sabadell), Alberto Munarriz (Barceloneta), Felipe Perrone (Barceloneta), Bernat Sanahuja (Barceloneta), Roger Tahull (Barceloneta), Francisco Valera (Sabadell).
Spain, which reached the podium at each big competition after the Tokyo Olympics, will start chasing a new medal in Doha from Group A. On Day 1 (February 5), it will meet South Africa. A replay of the European Championships final, Spain – Croatia, is scheduled for February 7. In the last round of the group stage (February 9), the Spaniards will play against Australia.
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