The French handball team has enormous resources, a big heart and an ability to never let go. Struggling like never before in this World Cup, the Blue still managed to dominate Denmark (23-22), Friday, December 17, to qualify for the final of the World Championship.
Against Spain or Norway, the French will play, on Sunday, their third consecutive final in international competition, after Euro 2020 (where they won the silver medal) and the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games (medal of gold).
It’s over !!! ?? 23 – 22 ?? What an end to the game !! ? The BLUES qualify for the World Cup final in t… https://t.co/5X5qkvjCH9
Since their Olympic title, the players of Olivier Krumbholz have shown unfailing serenity. It took them a lot on the floor of the Sports Palace in Granollers (Spain) as Denmark thwarted French plans for almost the entire meeting. For 51 minutes precisely: moment chosen by Grâce Zaadi (3/4 on shots) to tie the score for the first time in the match (20-20, 51st).
Alicia Toublanc without trembling
In these last ten minutes, the blue madness has overturned everything in its path. It was only three minutes from time that the France team finally got ahead of the score thanks to Alicia Toublanc (22-21, 57e). With a 3/4 on shots, the 25-year-old right winger did not seem to tremble as she takes part in her first international competition.
Then, one minute from the end, it was the pivot Pauletta Foppa (4/5 on shots) who restored the final advantage to the Blues (23-22). “We kept a cool head until the end whereas when we were – 4, it was really not easy ”, welcomed the coach Olivier Krumbholz after the game, at the microphone of TMC.
Indeed, before reversing the trend, the France team was heckled by Denmark. The Scandinavians took the lead from the start of the match, frustrating the French by taking their own game: an iron defense (the most effective in the competition before this meeting with 18.7 goals conceded per game) and fast play.
Opposite, the Blue stammered in attack, offering too much ammunition to the teammates of Line Haugsted (5/5 shots) who did not ask for so much. At the break, they had already lost a dozen balls.
“We scared each other, admitted the captain of the France team, Coralie Lassource. We made the game very complicated, we lost a lot of balls. We had pressure on our shoulders because we knew there was a medal to go get, we were tense. ”
It is the whole France team which did not lead wide when Denmark widened the gap in the first period: 4-8 (17e) and 6-10 (21e). The score at the break did not say everything about the tricolor procrastination: only two goals ahead for Denmark thanks to a save by Laura Glauser on an opposing seven-meter throw (10-12, 30e).
A providential change of defense
This end of the first period could be a turning point in the match in favor of the Blue. But, again, Jesper Jensen’s players took pleasure in keeping the Habs at bay (13-17, 40e).
“We were trying at all costs to seize the opportunity if it existed, Olivier Krumbholz analyzed. We managed to open the door to the five-way defense. ” Usually in check on his initial defense, the coach chose to advance Estelle Nze Minko to disrupt the opposing attack. The dynamic has reversed.
All that remained was to resolve an almost insoluble problem throughout the game: successfully clearing the obstacle of the Danish goalkeepers. Althea Rebecca Reinhardt (37% saves), yet stunned by a shot in the head at the start of the match, and Sandra Toft (50%) were imperial, in the continuity of what they had shown since the start of the competition.
The latter almost disgusted the French for good by stopping a penalty from Allison Pineau before a monumental double parade when Denmark took the lead (20-21, 54e). “We have failed many times on Danish goalkeepers”, observed Coralie Lassource.
“It was a big goalie battle, they were really strong opposite. They have succeeded in taking the ascendancy “, conceded Cleopatra Darleux. But like her teammates, the Brest goalkeeper did not give up by leaving a final decisive stop (23-22, 59e). His defensive wall pushed back the last nine-meter throw that could have taken the game into overtime.
Contrary to its flamboyant journey so far, France has proven that it can also win rough, bitter matches. “We are a crazy team, rejoiced Coralie Lassource. I don’t even have words. Even when we are led, we remain serene. We manage to stifle our adversaries. ”
These mental resources could still be useful in the final on Sunday to, perhaps, glean a third world title, after those of 2003 and 2017.