Axel May, with AFP
modified to
8:43 a.m., January 21, 2023
The French team did not force their talent, but they hardly needed it: qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Handball Championship before kick-off, they continued their clear round at a short trot against to Iran, limited (41-29), Friday in Krakow. Spain’s victory a little earlier against Slovenia (31-26) sent the Blues into the quarterfinals and removed all stakes in this unbalanced match against the Iranians.
On the other hand, there will be some on Sunday against the Spaniards at the end of the main round, with whom they share the lead in group I (8 pts each), without the possibility of being joined by the Slovenians (4 pts) and the Montenegrins (2 pts ): first place, and a potentially more affordable quarter-final.
Make some players blow
First, the Blues would indeed face the second of Group III (Germany, Norway, Netherlands or Serbia); second they would play against the winner. Whatever their position, they will play on Wednesday in Gdansk (Poland). With this in mind, coach Guillaume Gille was able to take advantage of the match against the Iranians to blow away his titular goalkeeper, Vincent Gérard, who did not play a single minute, Rémi Desbonnet, in the first period, and Charles Bolzinger, in the second, sharing game time.
Right-back Dika Mem, still with abdominal injuries, was in the stands as in the previous three matches. In the company of Nikola Karabatic, hit him on one foot. In his absence, Elohim Prandi (5 goals) and Thibaud Briet (6) shared the left-back position, rather successfully.
Injury of one of the two referees
In a game where the first-half calf injury to one of the two referees, forcing the Bosnian pair to make way for their substitute (Croatian), was one of the most entertaining moments. The lack of stake for the Blues, the difference in level with Iran and the lack of atmosphere in the vast Tauron Arena (15,000 seats), three-quarters empty, indeed made this match rather boring.
The French Olympic champions played their hand, simply placing a boost at the start of the second period to take an eight-goal lead (22-14) against the rough Iranians (seven temporary exclusions, including one for simulation).