In the Euro handball tournament, against Germany, the Blues improved their situation

The French handball team returned to action in style at the Men’s European Championship. The Blues won against Germany (33-30) on Tuesday 16 January in Berlin, at the end of an intense and committed meeting that improved their torrid start to the competition.

First in Group A, they are in a strong position for the second round of the event which they will start with two points in the standings, compared to zero for their evening opponents, who also qualified. Victorious in attack, strong in defence, the French delivered a solid match, living up to their status as reigning Olympic champions.

Assured of qualifying before kick-off – after North Macedonia’s win over Switzerland (29-27) – coach Guillaume Guille’s men nevertheless made a difficult start to the match, winning 0-3 inside three minutes.

The worst was feared; He didn’t come. As impervious to the electric atmosphere (15,000 spectators) of Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena, the Blues did not give up in establishing their game in the minutes and allowed the German defense through a seven-yard throw for the first time. Despite the masterful Andreas Wolff in half of Mannschaft’s goals, gaps will gradually appear in the opposite wall.

Nikola Karabetic was named “Man of the Match”.

A repeat parade of KS Keels goalkeepers (16 saves on 45 shots), the Blues would respond with power – embodied by the extended shots – and finesse – of Elohim Prandi (4 goals) and Dika Mem (5 goals). A touch of the ball by Cantin Mahé (5 goals), recalled after a failed match against Switzerland two days earlier (26-26).

Guillaume Gill also counted on the experience of his old grunt Nikola Karabetic (39 years) to strengthen the collective base of his team. Amazingly smart from the start at the Euros (the eleventh of his career), the 351-cap man added four more goals to his personal tally (now 1,282 in the blue jersey) and elected “Man of the Match”. “It’s my last Euro, Remembered the Paris Saint-Germain player on the microphone of BeIN Sports after the meeting. Playing against Germany, in Germany, in Berlin in front of 15,000 Germans, who whistle me when I come in, is exciting! You want to silence the whole room and show that we are better than them. »

Despite a bit of slack, which allowed the teammates of the gifted Jury Knorr (8 goals) to take the lead until ten minutes from the end of the match, the French handball players, like the infallible Ludovic, found the resources to finish the match in apotheosis. Fabregas (4 goals) in the main position.

The rest of the Euros will take place in Cologne, where the semi-finals and final will also be played. Croatia (January 18), Iceland (January 20), Austria (January 22) and Hungary (January 24) will cross paths with a suddenly revamped France team.