The 13th edition of the Airport Trophy in Kloten proved to be a high-caliber tournament for the U21 men's national teams from Spain, Germany, France, and Switzerland. This tournament traditionally serves as the final test before the upcoming European and World Championships.
From the very beginning, the high level of the tournament was evident. In the opening match, the two tournament favorites, Spain and Germany, faced off. Spain maintained control throughout the game and secured clear victories against both Switzerland and France, ultimately winning the tournament. Djordje Cikusa Jelicic from FC Barcelona shone as the tournament's most valuable player. With his ambidextrous playing style, he was a constant threat to opposing defenses.
The Swiss team arrived in Kloten already weakened, as both Gino Steenaerts and Luca Siegrist were out due to injuries. Led by Valentin Wolfisberg, Switzerland put on an impressive performance in their opening match against France. However, it ended dramatically with a 25:26 loss, as the French scored from a free throw in the last second.
The second game against Spain started off decidedly one-sided, with the Spaniards dominating the Swiss at will, leading to what seemed like a clear defeat. However, Switzerland showed their mental strength and fought back into the game. Despite trailing by nine goals at one point, they managed to come within two goals of the Spaniards by the 57th minute. The Spanish team, however, remained composed and secured the win.
On the final day of the tournament, Switzerland had the chance to secure second place with a victory over Germany. Coach Marcel Tobler's team started furiously, quickly taking a 5:1 lead. Due to minor lapses in concentration, the northern neighbors managed to close the gap. Driven by the outstanding performances of Valentin Wolfisberg in attack (the tournament's top scorer with 18 goals) and Mathieu Seravalli in goal, Switzerland kept the match balanced until the closing stages. Unfortunately, the Swiss experienced a scoreless phase of nine minutes in the final stretch, resulting in a 24:26 defeat.
Throughout the tournament, Switzerland demonstrated significant potential and fighting spirit despite three losses. In ten days, the European Championship will begin, where the teams will have to prove themselves again. With Germany and France in the same preliminary group as Switzerland, there will be an early chance for revenge. With the strong performances of their goalkeeper Mathieu Seravalli and top scorer Valentin Wolfisberg, they could cause some surprises at the European Championship.
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