Gold medalist at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, the France team won its ticket to the semi-finals of the women’s handball world championship, by dominating Sweden (31-26), Wednesday, December 15.
On paper, the match promised speed and physicality between two teams with very different skills. On the one hand, a very powerful Swedish attack, led by Nathalie Hagman, the tournament’s top scorer, and on the other a French defense broken in the exercise of choppy matches. “These are games that usually take place and end in the last 10 minutes,” had prophesied the coach of the Bleues Olivier Krumbhloz.
“But personally I have never lost against Sweden and I hope that will continue “. There too, he was not mistaken. But the victory was acquired on the wire after a very close battle.
The Habs defense, usually very efficient, struggled against the very fast Nordic players. Nathalie Hagman was the detonator of the match. Top scorer of the tournament, the Swede blew the French nets eight times in the first period (9 in all). Fearsome at 7m (10th-14th-18th), the Nantes player was insatiable.
No fault was allowed in this match where the Swedes were inflexible. Olivier’s players Krumbholz have however missed a few opportunities. No more than two points difference separated the two formations on the first half, offering a perfect equality at the break (15-15).
First period of this very harsh quarter between the French and the Swedes. We will have to fight to the end to enter the last square!
15-15 #BlueberryProud #Sheloveshandball # Spain2021 #FRASUE pic.twitter.com/oAN8ijyxMB
– French Handball teams (@FRAHandball) December 15, 2021
It was in an unbreathable atmosphere that the French women returned to the Granollers enclosure in Spain. Led by the captains Allison Pineau, Grâce Zaadi and Béatrice Edwige, the Blue widened a first gap in the 37th minute (20-17). Five points separated the Habs from the Swedes in the 42nd minute, after a goal scored at long distance by goalkeeper Cléopatre Darleux. The French were able to find the spaces, offering a shooting festival.
Returning to three points in the last ten minutes of play (29-26), the Swedes showed a real intensity of play until the last seconds. What remind the players of the Olympic Games in Tokyo where France and Sweden had met twice. In the group stage, the two nations had left on a perfect equality (28-28) before France won in the semi-final (29-27).
The French, reigning Olympic champions, were able to share their experience to maintain their lead. They now have an appointment in the semi-finals, Friday, December 17, against Denmark, striker of Brazil.
https://wakelet.com/wake/RXV4zBrh-kM-QpGJ5YYxA
https://peatix.com/user/9074065
https://wakelet.com/wake/PPnHKUJ_XrjHh84F060FC
https://wakelet.com/wake/Kjnq3-ZhSjdnOqpzrK-Xd
https://peatix.com/user/9058437
https://peatix.com/user/8882872
https://peatix.com/user/9074451
https://wakelet.com/wake/ly-IOr9WtcQZFRqiza9pT
https://wakelet.com/wake/LzDzmWrn6i6f7_U2Lr2OH
https://wakelet.com/wake/4SZM3F5q03NHzjPH0j2Nm
https://wakelet.com/wake/IqABwiogIVhWvthrC4emI
https://wakelet.com/wake/O_PWywesVoaGnOa6YQQYV
https://wakelet.com/wake/aUY8AgrBHVHLEB7ry6JCr
https://peatix.com/user/9046089
https://wakelet.com/wake/7zfgcvSIKPK9639R2yekL
https://wakelet.com/wake/GCeYpbNPRCjDj048GKPaz
https://wakelet.com/wake/v9yzXdsMEzuVHP0hqQwjG
https://wakelet.com/wake/5MnytK7t3k2yQ4BqktcG-
https://peatix.com/user/9062820
https://wakelet.com/wake/8xFIAmbv1enot8ZNXg6ZY
https://wakelet.com/wake/1rXZiuKg6S3Cd-I4GuUk8
https://wakelet.com/wake/_Q_ph2XYo3J-R755teq1e
https://wakelet.com/wake/uRmdzZd35_sL99QABE–i
https://peatix.com/user/9072062
https://peatix.com/user/9065626