“Everyone wants the title!” Words from Frenchwoman Pauletta Foppa, at the end of the semi-final of the world handball championships, easily won by the Blues on Friday December 15 against the Swedes (37-28). A big blow.
And to think that the Tricolores approached this World Cup in Scandinavia with the sole ambition of measuring themselves, and measuring the progress of a renewed group before the big deadline of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This Sunday, they played in the final against the Norwegians.
Laura Glauser’s reaction
“This is the first World Cup that I have won. We did flawlessly, we made a lot of sacrifices to get this reward. The team was well prepared not to let the Norwegians get away in the match. We deserve to have this medal.”
Estelle Nze Minko’s reaction
“I knew we were capable of doing it, but experiencing it is even more magical. It’s so beautiful! We grew up during this competition, having started with difficulties. We worked a lot after being eliminated from the competition. competition in the semi-finals last year. This success comes twenty years after the first coronation of the older generation of French handball players, synonymous with the third star on the jersey. I am so proud of the team! We needed to win against Norway, which we did twice during this World Cup. This gives us a lot of confidence in the run-up to the Paris Olympics where we hope to win the gold medal.
Philippe Bana, president of the French Handball Federation, reacts to TMC’s microphone
“I experienced this final with my heart out of my chest! The girls were strong and united as one, they knew how to do something bigger than themselves. It’s a lasting performance. This coronation is also that of the small clubs, that of the professional clubs, the hopeful centers, of all these factories of champions and of those who love this sport. I am crying for the thirtieth time and I have more tears!
60′ Les Bleues are world champions
After being Olympic champion, the French lift a new trophy!
59′ Another great French defense! The French are heading straight for the title! Héléna Grandveau is already in tears. What a game ! (31-28)
58′ Grandveau with a big shot from the right hits the top corner! On the Norwegian attack, Sako pulls out a new parade! (31-28)
57′ 7 meter throw for Murk. The winger deceives Sako. (30-28)
56′ What a match from Grandveau! She delivers the Blues. Only four minutes left! (30-27)
55′ Still on the counter, Herrem, launched, brings his team back two short lengths. (29-27)
54′ Launched against Oftedal finds the fault and scores! (29-26)
52′ Exasperated, the Icelandic coach of Norway decides to take a time-out!
52′ What defense from the French who recover the ball through Foppa. On a placed attack, Grandveau in pivot position finds the opening. (29-25)
51′ Outnumbered, the Blues widen the gap! Grandveau eliminates his opponent and scores. (28-25)
50′ What a strike from Kanor! After a combination she hits with a powerful right shot into the top corner! (27-25)
49′ Superbly well shifted Herrem reduces the score. (26-25)
48′ Despite another save from Lunde, Grandveau gets a penalty. The Norwegian goalkeeper puts out a huge parade against Bouktit.
47′ Bakkerud stands out thanks to his support and finishes gently. (26-24)
46′ Sako’s save from Reistad’s penalty. (26-23)
45′ Foppa found his back to the game, turns around and adjusts the Norwegian door. (26-23)
45′ The Norwegians reduce the gap! After a foul on Reistad causing a 7m throw, Murk adjusts Sako. (25-23)
42′ Reistad, thanks to a heavy right strike, beats Sako. (25-22)
41′ Foppa provokes once again in the axis and gets a foul. Bouktit adjusts Solberg after a 7-meter throw. +4. (25-21)
40′ Another save from Sako, which is exceptional. (24-21)
38′ What a save from Sako against the Norwegian winger. (24-21)
38′ Despite a strong French defense, Nze Minko fouls Murk’s face. It takes two minutes.
37′ What a sublime attack! Passed from one wing to the other, Valentini concludes the action. (24-21)
36′ Oftedal finds the opening in the middle. Horacek answers him very quickly. (23-20)
35′ Bouktit, pivot, wrong-foots Lunde on a penalty. (22-19)
35′ Shifted to the wing, Herrem adjusts the French goalkeeper. They come back to two short lengths. (21-19)
34′ Foppa found in the middle suffers a foul. Lunde stops the throw from 7 meters. (21-18)
33′ After several aimless actions, Oftedal delivers his own. (21-18)
31′ Alicia Toutblanc starts this second half. (21-17)
The match resumes
31′ The French are on the attack
Half time
The Bleues lead by three small goals at the break. A superb first period for the French who relied on a strong defense during the second part. All we need to do is finish the job.
30′ Toutblanc finds the post after being well shifted to his right wing. (20-17).
30′ Mork scores again from a penalty! (20-17)
29′ New penalty for France and two minutes for the Norwegians who will end the first period numerically inferior. Horacek takes charge of pulling him! (20-16)
28′ Hovden, well shifted on his wing, reduces the score. (19-16)
26′ Huge success for Glauser who after touching the ball, it hits both posts and does not go in. Nocandy pushes the Norwegians to minus 4. (19-15)
26′ Horacek adjusts Lunde for a penalty. (18-15)
24′ Nze Minko on the counter, scores and gives his team some breathing space. (17-14)
23′ After a long sequence, Nze Minko finds the opening while his arm was outstretched. (16-14)
22′ Reistad flies away and hits the top corner. (15-14)
21′ Flippes with a big shot from the left widens the gap. (15-13)
20′ Great defense from the Blues who recover the ball.
19′ After a counter flash, Granier adjusts Solberg. (14-13)
18′ New penalty in favor of the Norwegians, well converted by Murk. (13-13)
18′ Kanor from afar, scores and causes the first timeout of the match. (13-12)
17′ Grandveau full axis, takes a shot from the right which lodges in the opponent’s top corner. (12-11)
16′ Kanor puts France in front. (11-10)
16′ Bouktit serves in the post, stands out and scores. (10-10)
14′ Valentini equalizes! after recovering the ball and shooting into the empty goal. (9-9)
14′ After a nice shift, Orlane Kanor scores with a long distance shot. (8-9)
14′ New foul from Foppa which takes 2 minutes! Murk scores with a penalty. (7-9)
13′ Foppa also gets a penalty. Horacek transforms. (7-8)
12′ After a defense in the zone by Horacek, Murk beats Glauser following a 7 meter throw. (6-8)
10′ Bakkerud puts Norway at +2. (5-7)
9′ Valentini responds to Reistad with a sublime lob. (5-5)
9′ Well shifted by Flippes, Toutblanc adjusts the opponent’s door. (4-4).
8′ Mork beats Glauser after a 7 meter throw and Norway goes in front. (3-4)
7′ Glauser’s parade, once again. (3-3)
5′ Reistad deceives Glauser after a nice offensive move. (3-3)
4′ Flipps in the top corner. (3-2)
3′ The Norwegian pivot reduces the score. (2-2)
3′ Valentini and Horacek start the match. (2-1)
2′ Solberg responds. Parade for the Norwegian goalkeeper. (0-0)
1′ Glauser makes his first save against the Norwegian pivot. (0-0)
7:00 p.m. Kick-off
The Novegiennes attack first.
6:57 p.m. It’s time for hymns
The Marseillaise and the Norwegian anthem launch into the arena.
6:55 p.m. The mood begins to rise in Herning
The players return to the floor in a charged atmosphere. The Norwegians receive a standing ovation.
6:50 p.m. Norway, a major handball nation
Norway is the second most successful nation in women’s handball globally with four triumphs (1999, 2011, 2015, 2021, eleven finals in total), behind Russia (1982, 1986, 1990, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009 ).
6:44 p.m. A new medal for the French?
The French women’s handball team has thirteen international medals: four in gold (2020 Olympic Games, 2003 and 2017 World Cups, Euro 2018), six in silver (2016 Olympic Games, 1999 World Cup, 2009, 2011 and 2021, Euro 2020) and three in bronze (Euro 2002, 2006 and 2016).
6:40 p.m. Denmark in bronze
Cruelly eliminated in the semi-finals after overtime by Norway (29-28), Denmark managed to overcome its disappointment to win the bronze medal of the Women’s Handball World Cup by beating Sweden (28-27) at home in Herning this afternoon.
6:30 p.m. Hello everyone !
Welcome to this live to follow live commentary of the women’s world final between France and Norway. Kick-off at 7:00 p.m.