Argentina – Preview
Coach: Guillermo Milano
Key Players: Gaston Mourino (Line Player), Tomas Bernachea (Left Back)
Road to Qualification: Runners-up at Men’s Junior Pan American Championship 2015
History in Tournament: 1977-1991: DNQ, 1993: 11th, 1995: 17th, 1997-1999: DNQ, 2001: 20th, 2003: 16th, 2005: 11th, 2007: 13th, 2009: 6th, 2011: 20th, 2013: 16th
Overview:
Argentina go into the 2015 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship expecting to reach the round of 16 after their performance at the Junior Pan American Championship, where they finished in 2nd place.
Their coach, Guillermo Milano, believes this aim is achievable and now he is even more confident, as the team has been reinforced with a promising player.
Spanish line player Gonzalo Carro Castro, who plays for Teucro in the Spanish Liga ASOBAL, contacted the Argentina coach with the purpose of being part of his parents’ national team.
“It is a gift to have him,” stated Milano about the player who is set to play in Brazil.
In Foz do Iguaçu, where the Pan American tournament took place in March, Tomas Bernachea was the top scorer of the competition with 34 goals. The left back is one of the most valuable players in the squad, along with the tenacious line player Gaston Mourino.
The best finish for Argentina in the history of the U21 World Championship was sixth in the 2009 edition in FYRO Macedonia, with what was considered possibly the most talented Argentinian handball generation ever who have now reached great heights at a senior level.
In Brazil, the expectations are not so ambitious, but Coach Milano is satisfied with the improvements they are making; “we still have many days to reduce our mistakes,” he said when asked about his teams’ prospects at the tournament.
To get ready for the 2015 World Championship in Brazil, Argentina played three friendly matches against Puerto Rico’s senior team, finishing with one win and two draws. Further preparation games will see them face local club teams and the national youth team.
Group at Brazil 2015:
Group C: Argentina, Denmark, France, Chile, Korea, Algeria
Games at Brazil 2015:
(All times local)
Monday 20 July: ARG-KOR (16:15)
Wednesday 22 July: ALG-ARG (20:45)
Thursday 23 July: FRA-ARG (16:15)
Saturday 25 July: ARG-DEN (17.45)
Sunday 26 July: ARG-CHI (20:45)
Link to IHF.info page of fixtures here