Cédric Chasseur with AFP / Photo credits: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB / AFP
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8:17 a.m., December 13, 2023
The French women’s handball team qualified for the semi-finals of the World Championships by dominating the Czech Republic (33-22) this Tuesday in Trondheim, Norway. Olivier Krumbholz’s players will aim for a place in the final of the competition, on December 15 against the winner of Germany-Sweden.
The French women’s handball team, hanging on for forty minutes, ended up easily dominating the Czech Republic (33-22) on Tuesday in Trondheim, Norway to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup. The Blues will face Sweden or Germany on Friday in Herning, Denmark, who face Wednesday in the quarter-finals. They confirmed their feat against Norway (24-23) on Sunday at the conclusion of the main round, this time as they were the favorites facing the surprise of the quarter-finals.
HEADING FOR THE SEMI-FINAL!! 33-22
It’s done ! the BLEUES overcome the Czechs and reach the last four of the competition
The competition continues! GO BLUE #BlueberryProudpic.twitter.com/caMkyw96A0— French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) December 12, 2023
The reigning Olympic champions took around forty minutes to get the measure of their opponent, the fault in particular of the eight balls lost at half-time, and a few failures on easy shots, like Orlane Kanor on this ball of +5 in the middle of the first period (11-7, 15th), missed against goalkeeper Sabrina Novotna (six saves at half-time).
Laura Glauser, player of the match
Result: the Blues, ahead by a short header at the break (18-16), waited until the start of the last quarter of an hour to break away (25-19, 45th). They were led by their captain Estelle Nze Minko (5 goals from 6 attempts including three in the first eight minutes of the second half), who rushed into the spaces left gradually by the Czechs, who did not failed to keep up with the frenetic pace imposed by France. The Blues were especially able to count on the performance in goal of Laura Glauser.
Already decisive on Sunday against Norway, the goalkeeper entered at the start of the second half in place of Hatadou Sako, nauseating the Czech attackers behind a still aggressive defense (12 saves on 18 shots, all in the second half). She was voted player of the match.