A classic to start with. For its debut at Euro 2022 handball, this Thursday evening, in Szeged (Hungary), the France team will directly enter the heart of the matter with a shock against Croatia. Here is the full TV program.
No time to procrastinate for the Blues. Like, a year ago, during the World Cup, finished at the 4and place, the men of Guillaume Gille will be opposed to the most formidable opponent of their group to start the competition. This had rather succeeded for them since they had clearly dominated Norway (28-24). It’s up to them to do the same against the reigning European vice-champion to launch their tournament in the best possible way.
If the Habs are among the favorites, five months after the Olympic title won in Tokyo, they will start this Euro with some uncertainties related to the Covid-19 and due to a renewed workforce compared to their coronation in Japan with the retirements of Michaël Guigou and Luc Abalo as well as the absences for injury of Timothey N’Guessan, Nedim Remili and Luka Karabatic.
Although they know this team inside out, the teammates of Valentin Porte, the new French captain, will have to be serious and focused from the start to get the best out of the revengeful Croats. Last March in Montpellier, the Blues had overthrown this Croatian formation (30-26) during an Olympic qualifying tournament which allowed the French to win their ticket for the Olympics, unlike the Croats eliminated after the defeat of a goal of the France team against Portugal.
“It is up to us to know how to enter fully into this match”, warned the Blues goalkeeper Vincent Gérard. The best way to avoid disappointment and to mark the spirits at the start of this new campaign.
TV program
France-Croatia
Handball Euro 2022
Thursday January 13
From 8:30 p.m. live and in full on beIN SPORTS 1 and TFX