FCBARCELONA.CAT

24.06.2007 12:28

Panadero and Ordeig, world champions

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Spain have won the world roller hockey championship following an emphatic 8-1 win over Switzerland in the final in Montreux. Barça players Panadero and Ordeig were among the players in the side coached by Carlos Feriche.

Sergi Panadero and Mia Ordeig have world champions medals around their necks, and there can be no arguing that the best side won. Spain retained the title won two years ago in San Jose, brushing aside the host nation, who had qualified for the final against all the odds to become the first ever finalist from outside of the ‘big four’ in the modern era.

Mia Ordeig opens the scoring

And it was Mia Ordeig who got Spain off to a dream start with a goal after just 17 seconds in his team’s first attack on the Swiss goal, the assist coming from Sergi Panadero. But following that proved difficult as the Swiss defended solidly in front of their own fans, and managed to equalise affairs six minutes before the break. Things dodn’t stay like that for long, with Brentini committing a penalty on Panadero and Marc Gual converting, then adding a third on the stroke of half time.

Second half goal fest

If a surprise had been on the cards in the first half, in the second Switzerland caved in and allowed the Spaniards to run a riot. A Panadero free hit made it four just after the restart, and Switzerland threw caution to the wind in a desperate attempt to salvage a sinking ship. The goals started flowing with ease for Spain, with Gil hitting the target twice, and Roca and Teixidó adding one each to make it 8-1.

History is made

The Spanish side has made history at this World Championship. They have now won the title 13 times, and are just two shy of Portugal’s record of 15 wins. They have also equalled Portugal’s achievement of winning two World and two European titles in a row, and did so by winning all six games by at least four goals. In the tournament, Spain scored 46 goals and let in just three.

Carlitos López takes bronze

In the third and fourth place play off, Argentina took bronze, beating Italy on penalties after a 2-2 draw, meaning there was also a medal for Barcelona’s Carlitos López.