Spanish coach Fede González says his side’s preparations have been “intense but positive” as they look to continue their rise back up the Euro ranks.
The country was a frequent top five finisher up until 2012 before they took time away from the indoor scene. Their return in 2020 saw them quickly sweep back up the ranks from Championship III to the top tier in 2024 where they ended in fifth place.
And González says his side is hungry for more: “What we have is a desire to be ourselves and reach our full potential and then results will usually be the consequence of that and I’m sure they will be good.”
His side has a cohort of players who have been part of the six-year journey like Enrique Zorita, Ignacio Cobos and the TSV Mannheim-based Manu Prol. César Curiel, Juan Muñoz and Ignacio Abajo are all looking forward to a third Euro campaign.
On the goalkeeping front, there is a new look with Pablo Luna and Diego Palomero vying for time between the posts. Pablo Manuel Román, Pere Amat and Ferran Muñoz are all making their debuts.
Last week, they won the Ourense Cup ahead of Switzerland, Portugal and Italy, giving them confidence for Heidelberg.
“The work accumulated over the last few years has been consolidating, allowing us to bring together a large group that knows the game and has a healthy competitive spirit.
“We arrive ready to compete after a training camp focused on fine-tuning and refreshing our skills, and a fantastic tournament where Ourense has been our home, surrounded by people and enthusiasm.
“The conclusion is we have arrived well prepared and focused on ourselves, which is the philosophy. We must be able to develop our individual and collective virtues; the rest will be a consequence of that.
“Above all, there is a fantastic atmosphere with players who know each other and inspire confidence. Seven different provinces of origin form a team that is like a family; a team that mixes experience and youth, quality and ambition.”
