Handball World Cup: in the semi-final, the Blues face the Swedes in search of revenge


Cédric Chasseur / Photo credits: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB / NTB via AFP
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9:58 a.m., December 15, 2023

This Friday, December 15, France faces Sweden in the semi-finals of the women’s world championships. The Blues had already beaten them at the Tokyo Games two years ago, before being crowned Olympic champions. Estelle Nze Minko’s teammates will have to give everything to reach the final.

Les Bleues facing all of Scandinavia. This is the atypical scenario that the semi-finals of the women’s world championships, which take place in Norway, have in store for us. On one side, France, reigning Olympic champion and on the other, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. It is against the latter that the players supervised by Olivier Krumbholz will have to win to reach the final of the competition. A complicated opponent, but above all vengeful, since the Yellow and Blue lost against the Tricolores in the semi-final of the Tokyo Olympic Games two years ago.

“Sweden is tired of losing against France”

After a large victory against the Czech Republic (33-22) in the previous round, France will have to remain on its guard against a valiant Swedish team. “There is this motivation in her, it remains a very good team, as always, with very good players,” judges Siraba Dembélé-Pavlović, Olympic vice-champion with the French team and consultant for beIN Sports. “They’re a team that plays really hard on defense so I think it’s going to be a close game until the end.” Before emphasizing: “Sweden is tired of losing against France”.

Alone against the north of Europe, the French should not be impressed by the Swedes. Since the start of the competition, France has seven victories in as many matches, enough to hope for a great story. “They are in a big dynamic, but we know that it is a team that is very strong individually, with great qualities in all positions, whether on the wings, inside or in the goals,” explains Cira Aram Lô, former Franco-Senegalese international. “We were waiting for them there and we hope that they will go even further.”

In the event of a victory against Sweden, France will face the victorious team in the duel between Denmark and Norway. The latter, supported by her enthusiastic audience, appears to be the favorite.





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