Rafael Pascual evokes historic 2007 EuroVolley gold for Spain
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Fifty years of European Volleyball history are obviously filled with many historic and special moments. Rafael Pascual was lucky enough to live and share one such moment – as the captain of the Spanish men’s national team that claimed a sensational EuroVolley gold medal in 2007 in Moscow.
There are many good reasons to regard that moment as so special for Rafael and for Spanish Volleyball as well. “That success came in the late stages of my career and after spending some 20 years with the national team and playing together with four different generations of players. It all started in 1987 when we came together to prepare for the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, hoping to place Spanish Volleyball on the international map and to make Spain proud,” Rafael recalls. Pascual was only 17 when he joined the group and 22 when he played at Barcelona 1992, where Spain lost to Cuba – a major force at the time – in the quarterfinals.
Actually, Spain had come close to the European podium in 2005 already, when they lost a dramatic EuroVolley semi-final to Russia (3-2) and the subsequent bronze medal match to Serbia and Montenegro. Pascual had left the national team but Italian-born head coach Andrea Anastasi decided to call him back in time for the 2007 edition in Russia. “Andrea told me that I had 21 days to be back in shape if I was to join the group. My comeback was not any sort of present since he would not have made space for me at the expense of somebody else. I had to prove and show that I was good enough to come back even though my role would not have been as prominent as in the years before,” Pascual says. “I still remember that one day Andrea stopped our training session and informed everyone that I was going to be the captain of the team. That came as a surprise.”
Pascual admits that the EuroVolley success in 2007 was the result of a long-term process, the climax of a plan that had started 20 years before.
“I – and many generations of players – had been chasing that elusive medal for many years. We had come close in 2005. We had played multiple editions of the European and even at the World Championships. Previously, we were at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 – always sharing the same approach and mentality that we wanted to make Spanish Volleyball great and be a force to reckon with."
Spain did not lose a single match at EuroVolley 2007, even though they were close to defeat in the semi-final with Finland as well as in the gold medal game with Russia. “You may argue that our success came a bit unexpectedly, but we had been knocking on the door of the podium already, so we were definitely in contention for a medal with that great generation of players. What surprised the most was that we won in such dramatic fashion when everyone expected Russia to win, especially on home soil and knowing the strength of their team at the time.”
Pascual had not played much earlier in the tournament, but in the final match, Anastasi resorted to him. “I remember he looked at me and with my body language I made him understand that I was ready and had no fear to take to the court at such an important moment. I had been watching and following the team for most of the event from the bench and I was obviously eager to play. I will never forget the moment when we scored that last block and won. It was the culmination of a process and dream that had started 20 years earlier,” he recounts.
Pascual gets visibly emotional when sharing his memories of that day not only because they have to do with such a historic success.
“Obviously, that was the greatest moment of my career, especially since European gold with the national team, a family whose destiny I had been sharing for so many years, knows no equal even though I won everything I could possibly ask at club level. Unfortunately, that moment also awakens many emotions due to the fact that two players involved in that final are no longer with us.”
Rafael refers to the respective setters of Spain and Russia, Miguel Angel Falasca and Vadim Khamuttskikh, both gone way too soon. “They were the top setters of that generation, and it really feels sad that we have lost both at such a young age, especially while they were transferring their immense knowledge and experience to the younger generations.”
Asked to identify the reasons for that unprecedented success in 2007, Pascual adds: “As I said, it was the climax of a process that had started many years before. Moreover, we, the players, shared the same mentality and wish to succeed. There was a strong core group of players, including the Falasca brothers, who had been competing together for many years at club level too, together with some others who shared the same mission. However, I would also like to emphasise the role played by our coach, Andrea Anastasi. He placed much responsibility on the players, he was always very composed, but when and where necessary he would show his strong character too, so that we would understand that at the end of the day, he was the boss and the leader.”
Rafael retired from the national team after Spain failed to qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, but he eventually continued to play until the age of 41. “I was never tired of playing, especially for the national team. I always played with all my heart, something that I wanted the fans to understand and feel. I have lived this journey with much intensity, and I am proud that together with a great group, in 2007 we could take Spain and Spanish Volleyball to the top of the podium in Europe.”
Pascual and his teammates have left very big shoes to fill in: “I would love to see the Spanish national team back among the top nations in Europe and in the world of Volleyball, however this is a long-term process, which requires many matches and readiness to learn, especially from the defeats. However, once you break the ice, like we did in 2007 against Russia, you will feel like none is invincible.”