Christopher Fillocque
After their victory against North Macedonia, the French handball players will face Switzerland this Sunday evening. If the Blues are favorites for this match, they will still have to watch out for their opponent. If the objective is to win the Euro, the Blues do not lose sight of the 2024 Olympic Games.
A little less than a month after the world title acquired by the French handball players in Denmark, the men’s Euro began on Wednesday on German soil. The Blues started the competition in the best way with a big victory against North Macedonia, 39-29. Now it’s time for Switzerland this Sunday evening at 6 p.m. The international handball calendar is busy this year with two major competitions to play: the Olympic Games obviously, but first the European Championship.
For Nikola Karabatic’s Blues, the objective is therefore to once again get their hands on a title that has eluded them since 2014. A European Championship which has the reputation of being the hardest tournament to win. For a simple reason: “Our sport is essentially European,” notes French left-hander Melvyn Richardson. “It’s very simple, no nation outside Europe has won a World Cup or an Olympic gold medal.”
The Blues among the favorites
The Blues therefore cross the road to Switzerland this Sunday evening. Beaten in their first match by Germany, if it is difficult to imagine the Swiss coming out of the groups, they still have some arguments which could allow them to sow doubt among the French. The Blues, Olympic champion and vice-world champion, are among the favorites alongside Denmark, Sweden, Spain and the host country, Germany. Unless there is a surprise, the European champion is among these nations, the future Olympic champion probably too.