Is the goalkeeper the most decisive position in handball? Liftados opens the debate and interviews Jaime Suárez

You can now watch and listen to episode 18 of Liftados. The goalkeeper's influence on the result of a match, the controversy over 7 against 6 and eating before competing are the focus of the show. Gorka Cabañas and Dani Cabado talk about the tactical evolution of handball and welcome Jaime Suárez, player and nutritionist, to talk about habits that also count once the ball starts rolling.

The goalkeeper gains weight in today's handball

The chat starts with a question: which position is the most decisive today? Gorka and Dani review how the answer has changed over the years. The left back and the pivot have played a central role at different stages, but now the goal claims the spotlight. The example of Emil Nielsen is used to put on the table a goalkeeper's ability to condition the match from the defence and also from inside his opponents' heads.

The debate widens to the importance of finding game-changing goalkeepers and the place they occupy within the salary scale of European handball. The conversation features a talk by Xavi Pascual and an anecdote linked to Xesco Espar, two references for thinking about how far a performance between the posts can change a team's plan.

Rules, image and a family story tied to handball

The episode also pauses on some curious news items. Among them, the code of conduct Bob Hanning is pushing at Füchse Berlin, with restrictions on items such as sandals with socks or caps inside the hall. From there, Gorka and Dani discuss how much the image of coaches and players influences a match and what place dress should have in professional competition.

The section makes room for a story that connects several generations. Tanja and Per Theiling met in beach handball in 1998 and, 28 years later, coach their daughter. A family journey that reflects how sport can accompany a person from their first steps into adult life.

What does 7 against 6 add and take away?

The discussion returns to one of the rules that generates the most conversation in handball. Gorka and Dani analyse play without a goalkeeper and its tactical consequences: from the possible loss of offensive creativity to the effect it has on two-minute suspensions and the presence of open or mixed defences.

The underlying question is what kind of handball people want to watch. During the debate, proposals appear to increase the spectacle, such as giving more value to long-range shooting or having a fly count double. They are ideas that open up new possibilities, although they also force us to think about which elements of the game might be lost with each change.

Jaime Suárez: what to eat before training or competing

From minute 36, Jaime Suárez takes over from the discussion. A player and nutritionist, he shares his experience of spreading nutrition knowledge in dressing rooms and explains why nutrition must adapt to the schedule and the needs of each athlete. His brother Ignacio Suárez is also mentioned before moving into an interview focused on very common situations for people who play handball.

One of the main topics is meal timing. Suárez reviews frequent mistakes before training or playing and comments on why you should be careful with foods rich in fibre, fats or legumes when there is little time left before the start. The conversation drops into specific cases: what to eat if the match starts at five in the afternoon and how to organise the morning of children and teenagers who compete early.

The interview also covers alcohol consumption and its relationship with recovery and injury risk, as well as hydration throughout the day. Drinking between meals, including fruit and vegetables and considering isotonic drinks in pre-season are some of the matters put on the table.

On supplementation, Suárez proposes starting with the basics of food before talking about specific products. Caffeine and creatine appear as supplements with evidence, as opposed to other myths that still circulate among athletes. The block also includes references to nutrition in endurance events, such as the 50-kilometre race walk, and ends with an anecdote about the meals before the Spanish University Championship.

Episode 18 of Liftados closes with a reflection on what was discussed and a farewell to the podcast community. A conversation that moves from the goal and the rules of the game to the athlete's table, with one underlying idea: the details surrounding handball are also part of the match.