Surprising, for the better, the universe of elite handball. Just 24 hours after being eliminated from the World Cup and one day before playing their farewell match with nothing at stake, the captain of the Spanish team, Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (34 years old), … show your face The Barça goalkeeper offers his diagnosis, without excuses or make-up, about the present and future of the national team.
–How have you digested Friday’s defeat against Portugal and the subsequent goodbye to the World Cup?
–It was a complicated night, but I, for example, have the memory of this year at the Paris Games. The day after that semifinal was much harder. Against Portugal we already knew that if we didn’t win we were out. We also knew before coming that the draw was quite demanding, even to get you into the quarterfinals. And we are aware that we have not had the consistency necessary to go further.
–Did you talk anything between you?
–We usually get together after the games and chat calmly, both when we lose and when we win many times. Even in the same locker room after finishing each game things are shared.
–And the coach, what did he tell you?
–That we are not in the quarterfinals by ourselves. I think Jordi Ribera will agree that today we are not at the level of consistency that a competition like this needs. We have done things well and there are others that have not gone so well, that we must improve, but this is a process that intends to be a more long-term process.
–Is it the end of the golden era of the national team?
–Seven or eight years ago the same thing was said about this group. Three or four years ago after the Tokyo Games, the same. That is not up to us nor are we going to be the ones to say it. It was the journalists. I think that in the end this team has adapted to the new times and the new players who have entered. It is true that the team has been rejuvenated a lot. This involves different aspects such as lack of experience or it being the first big competition for many. It is not an excuse, those who are here are because they have a level regardless of whether they are 19 or 35 years old, but we must be aware that it is a new group and that it has to begin to experience both defeats and victories together. He has to grow with games and with many moments off the court. These are things that we also lack.
–How have the younger ones taken it?
–Some worse than others, like everyone else. I think that in the end they are not so aware of what they stop experiencing by not reaching matches like the quarterfinals. Many times defeats teach you more than victories, surely that first experience with the national team will help them.
–In the individual section, how do you rate your championship?
–I think I have been correct, but I have not done my best. Against Portugal, especially in the second half, it got a little complicated for everyone. For the goal too. I could have gotten a few more balls, but we had to take risks with open defense.
–One of the scenes of the tournament is his noble gesture with Wanne, whom he saved from expulsion after telling the referee what had really happened (the ball thrown by the Swede in a penalty did not hit the goalkeeper directly in the face, action that is punished with a red card). You explain it as something natural and, furthermore, logical knowing that there are numerous cameras recording. What do you think then when you see pretending in other sports, mainly footballers?
–I don’t like it. That’s why I don’t do it. I think there are solutions to avoid wasting time and so much mischief. Our sport is generally quite noble, and I don’t like to see those actions in other sports. And even less in those that have an important significance for our society.
–In addition to nobility, in handball the level of public self-criticism stands out, compared to other disciplines.
–The way to improve begins by assuming mistakes. By analyzing what has gone well and what has gone wrong. And we are not going to hide it. It has not been the World Cup we wanted. We knew that we were in the most difficult part of the draw and that any of the teams, except perhaps Chile, could have qualified. By saying things the way you think, you are not disrespecting anyone. On the contrary, it is being honest with the group.
–It is also abnormally common in handball to announce in advance that you are leaving one club to sign for another. You did it, you said that you will go to German club Kiel in June, they took away your Barcelona captain’s armband and, without making a fuss, you continue to perform as always.
–In handball the market moves several years in advance because they try not to pay clauses and thus not have to negotiate forced exits. I am going to defend the Barça shirt until the end of my contract. Because it is my job and because I will always want to win. When I join Kiel I will try to win every game possible, every title, without disrespecting anyone. I believe that any athlete, any professional always wants to win. I think there should be very few doubts there.
-How do you face a game like the one in Brazil, with nothing at stake?
-You are not at stake for points or classification, but you are at stake for sporting pride. And in the national team no one has a guaranteed position, we all have to show every day that we want to be here. The match has to be an incentive to finish well, with good feelings, competing and winning. We have a very demanding qualification for the European Championship in a month and a half, and these matches must also serve to help people show that they want to be in the national team.
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