The French handball players, by largely winning against Iceland (39-32) on Saturday in Cologne, took a further step towards the semi-finals of the Euro. Nikola Karabatic’s band is firmly established at the top of its group I (6 points) in the main round, of which it must rank in one of the first two places to reach the last four of the tournament.
There are two matches left to play in this main round for Guillaume Gille’s men who could seal their qualification from their next meeting against Austria on Monday (6 p.m.) depending on the results of the other matches. Worst setback for the Blues in a Euro, the 21-29 conceded two years ago against these same Icelanders remained “in the throat”, says Nedim Remili. The Olympic champions were finally able to digest it on Saturday.
VICTORY ! 39-32
It’s over ! The BLUES dominate the Icelanders and take a big step towards the semi-finals
GO BLUES! ✊#BluetProudpic.twitter.com/Nf0lopdIZc— French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) January 20, 2024
Bellahcene took his chance
And they owe it in particular to their goalkeeper Samir Bellahcene (12 saves including 8 in the first period). Pragmatic, Guillaume Gille immediately lined up the ex-Dunkerquois, who was only celebrating his eighth selection. At 28, Bellahcene is experiencing a trajectory as late as meteoric, between his recruitment by one of the biggest clubs in the world, Kiel, first as a medical joker then permanently, and now his tenure in a major tournament with the Blues.
In the absence of former number 1 Vincent Gérard, who had surgery for pubalgia in September, the coach had started Montpellier’s Rémi Desbonnet until then in the tournament, lacking success (25% of shots stopped). For Iceland, which was at stake for its survival, the afternoon quickly smelled of pheasant, or rather hakarl, a fermented shark dish typical of the island. Nantais Viktor Hallgrimsson’s team (7 saves, 18%) was five lengths behind shortly after returning from the locker room (21-16, 35th).
Dika Mem, precious again
Except for a few failures in rapid play, the Blues, who had made all the goalkeepers shine since the start of the tournament, set the sights (39/53). Best director of the Blues since the start of the Euro (28 goals), Dika Mem has once again been valuable, particularly from afar, for the French vice-world champions, in pursuit of a fourth European crown, ten years after the last one.
The only cloud over Cologne, in a coat of snow bathed in sunshine on Saturday, one of the most experienced Blues, the right winger with 186 caps, Valentin Porte had to be preserved, left in the stands “due to a contusion on the knee right” occurred against Croatia, according to the Federation.