A five-carat match from “Kara” carried the French handball team to a valuable success against Croatia (34-32) and first place in its group in the main round of the Euro on Thursday in Cologne. Nikola Karabatic’s squad is now in an ideal position to finish in one of the first two places in their group and qualify for the semi-finals of the European Championship, a competition they have not won for ten years.
Karabatic, record holder for the number of goals in the history of the Euro
The Blues tamed Croatia at the end of a match that hung on until the final minute. All this despite three temporary exclusions – and a permanent one for its pivot Ludovic Fabregas -, despite blue goalkeepers in difficulty for a long time and despite a Croatian goalkeeper, Dominik Kuzmanovic, almost impassable (13 saves, 41%). Has time taken a toll on Nikola Karabatic? As against Germany on Tuesday (33-30 victory), the almost 40-year-old handball legend – in April – set the tone with his five goals and his aggression without the ball.
Like his interception when the Croats held a ball to go ahead by three lengths (5-7, 11th) or his counter, in a key moment (24-22), which he celebrated, on the ground, clenched fists, screaming. With 289 goals scored in the European Championship since the start of his career, “Kara” overtakes the Icelandic Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson who until then held the record for goals in the history of the Euro (288). Even if he is closely followed by his ex-PSG teammate, the Dane Mikkel Hansen (276).
Another satisfaction, Yannis Lenne, the right winger hampered by lower back pain then declined, shone (3 goals/4 shots) after a sluggish first meeting against Germany (0/3). He also served his ex-partner from Montpellier on the other wing, Hugo Descat, for a magnificent kung fu (17-14, 24th). On the other hand, as against Germany, the goalkeepers are still struggling. The entry in the 20th minute of Samir Bellahcene in place of Rémi Desbonnet, in difficulty (2 saves on 13 shots, 15%) was slow to have its effects (0/6). Until returning from the locker room when the ex-Dunkerquois stopped a first attempt before finishing better (6/25, 24%).
The success of the Croatian shooters against the French goalkeepers was reminiscent of their coup against the Spaniards when one and only time a La Roja goalkeeper was able to stop them. Guillaume Gille’s men must play their next match against Iceland on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) to further extend their lead over the competition.