The silver medal which sanctioned Sunday in Granollers (Spain) the World Handball of the Blue, rinsed (29-22) by the Norwegian magicians, will have the retrospective taste of disappointment but also of an inestimable, extravagant human value. It was built in the flurry of depression and psychological dead ends felt four months ago by the very fresh Olympic champions of the time, timidly confessed in the team and whose roots appeared to be multiple, sporting (the ordinary of the championship after the consecration of a player’s life) or linked at the time (the coronavirus and the uncertainty it poses to competitions), more or less shared or conscious.
These difficulties said something about this team that the witnesses had under the nose during the two weeks of competition preceding the lost final on Sunday, and which perhaps explained – to them to speak about it – in part defeat: the enormous psychological investment which is necessary for him to perform. The price to pay for a freer game, less framed than that of the Russians or the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway), which can only live if the Habs are in the state of mind to go beyond limits. In the opinion of the French players themselves, Friday’s victory (23-22) in the semi-final against the Danes had already held a miracle. The elastic therefore ended up breaking against Stine Bredal Oftedal and others, until the end of the cruel match, when we saw them go up Golgotha at two an hour, without a drop of gasoline in the tank, for that the Norwegians were passing each other in the back and sending kisses to the girlfriends in the stand.
Euphoria scent
As usual when they find themselves old accustomed to international finals, the two teams offered a style opposition. The Nordiques move smoothly and quickly, often finishing actions on their large (1.84m) pivot Kari Brattset – a sign that the Norwegian wingers are under surveillance. Conversely, the Blue are not looking for avoidance but a showdown, presuming a sort of superiority in the duel, of each player over the opponent facing her.
Admitted by Norwegians (“They would like to have our physical qualities”, explained Béatrice Edwige this week), this preeminence is a slow poison. In addition to existing on the floor, she returns to haunt the minds of Nora Mørk and her teammates at the first blow of the box, causing a loss of confidence that cultivates difficulties. Slightly dominated at the start of the match, the Scandinavians take a first glow after twenty minutes (12-7 for the Blue, 25th), the tricolor goalkeeper Laura Glaser offering himself five saves in a row when the Nordiques do not lose balloons in touch . The gap rises to +6, a scent of euphoria crosses the French ranks to the substitutes’ bench, it costs them one or two more goals and the Norwegians are rather happy to reach half-time at -4 ( 12-16).
Ghosts hunted
Upon returning from the locker room, the girls coached by Thorir Heirgersson chased the ghosts. It’s going too fast for the Blue. They type in the void, arrive too late and give all the balls to Grâce Zaadi so that the native of Courcouronnes (Essonne) plays for them. Océane Sercien Ugolin begs the French public to give her courage, goalkeeper Cléopâtre Darleux takes a ball in the head which makes her cry and the French coach, Olivier Krumbholz, speaks at time out in a desert: usually proactive and talkative, the French players have nothing more to say. Ten minutes from time, the Norwegians are at +6 (26-20) and the French are looking at their shoes.
It has to end. Estelle Nze Minko will take the first microphone that goes: “I’m not sure what happened after the first half. Hot, it’s difficult. We were initially very solid. Afterwards, we have a hard time, we have a hard time … We missed our match, yes. From there to find out why … “ Krumbholz, who still investigates a thirteenth international medal since his arrival at the head of the Blue in 1998 (minus a three-year parenthesis between 2013 and 2016): “There is disappointment but there is pride all the same. We played very badly in the second half but just before the break there were already things wrong. Then we are awkward in shooting, then in passing, and there… ” In fact, they had their feet in the cement. Or the opponent has adjusted his mechanics and unrolled his thing without making a whole world of the reigning Olympic champions. Or both.