Olympic champions, the French women return to the arena

On a cloud since their victory at the Tokyo Olympics in August, the players of the French handball team descend into the arena in Spain, where the 1er on December 19, the world championships. A competition from which the Blue were eliminated in the first round in 2019, while they were the title holders. Besides the French, the Spanish, who play at home, the Dutch, world champions two years ago, and the Norwegians, European champions, are favorites. The Russians and Swedes can also claim the final victory. “The competition is very open, you have to be wary of everyone”, says Laura Glauser, one of the three goalkeepers for the France team.

Les Bleues fell into a difficult preliminary group with Angola, which they face on Friday, December 3, Slovenia (December 5) and Montenegro (December 7). “Three good teams with different styles, comments Olivier Krumbholz, the French coach. Angola is very physical. Slovenia is still technically fair. And Montenegro is tactically strong. “

Also read: French handball players crowned in turn Olympic champions

Scalded, the French handball players have in mind the disappointment of the French volleyball players, swept in three sets by the Czech Republic in the round of 16 of the Euro one month after their coronation of Tokyo. “To avoid such disillusionment, we will have to be ready right away, whereas we often have sluggish beginnings during major meetings”, worries Béatrice Edwige, the boss of the blue defense.

“After Tokyo, everyone dreams of hanging the Olympic champion team on their hunting roster. It will be difficult, but the French team is experienced, the atmosphere is good and we are competitors ”, said the captain of the Bleues, Coralie Lassource, left winger at Brest Bretagne Handball. The level of the French championship, considered one of the highest in the world, pleads in favor of the French women.

Muscular reunion

Unless there is a big disappointment, the France team should advance to the next round, during which the real skimming will take place. New for women, the competition format is the one that was used for the first time in Egypt during the men’s world in January. The 32 teams were divided into eight groups of four. The first three in each group qualify for the main round four groups of six teams. The Tricolores should cross there the Serbs, the Poles and especially the Russians. A reunion that promises to be muscular because they had beaten the French during the hens in Tokyo, before losing in the Olympic final. Only two selections per group can then qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition. France has the advantage of playing all their matches in the same venue, in Granollers, near Barcelona.

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