Left winger Chloé Valentini admits it bluntly, before a tantalizing final of the world championships, this Sunday in Herning, Denmark: “we’re frankly fed up! » The handball Blues have had enough of seeing the Norwegians steal their dessert when they are about to enjoy themselves.
Finals of the 1999, 2011 and 2021 World Championships, this last meeting being framed by a defeat in the final (2020) then in the semi-final (2022) of the Euro… If the term “bete noire” was not wrung out by use, we would use it without asking any questions.
Henny Reistad, number 1 threat
“Norway has a culture of work, particularly physical from a very young age,” observes Siraba Dembélé, former captain of the French team, now a consultant for beIN Sports, broadcaster of these World Cups. These girls are immersed in a high level of professionalism very early on. There is also an incredible handball culture in this country, with continuity in the quality of the players, who are among the best every time. »
However, the teammates of the ogress Henny Reistad – author of 15 of his team’s 28 goals Friday in the semi-final against Denmark (28-29 after extra time) – remain human. Siraba Dembélé is well placed to talk about it, she who won one of Les Bleues’ two world crowns in 2017 (after 2003), defeating the same Norwegians in the final. The former left winger also appreciated the French victory at the end of the main round, just a week ago in Trondheim, in the lair of their best enemy (24-23).
“Today, we really manage to challenge them, to be at the same level as them, I don’t know if we can really talk about superiority. » So obviously, the team coached by the Icelandic Thorir Hergeirsson will want to make Olivier Krumbholz’s team pay for this affront, which has also propelled them into a much less favorable part of the table, while France flew towards the final, whistling and blowing away the Czech Republic in the quarter (33-22) then Sweden in the half (37-28).
The incredible Bleues reservoir
“The Norwegians rely on seven or eight players maximum, while France played everyone,” adds Siraba Dembélé. The reigning Olympic champions were thus able to afford the luxury of doing without their head of defense Béatrice Edwige for these Worlds, who was thought to be irremovable, advantageously replaced by the doublet Pauletta Foppa (23 years old on December 22) and Sarah Bouktit (21 years old).
They started extremely timidly against Angola (30-29) before inexorably gaining momentum, often an infallible recipe for getting to the end of a competition. “They remain on incredible momentum, they are impressive,” admires Siraba Dembélé. However, this Sunday she expects “a very competitive match, which will be played until the last moments, perhaps in overtime”.
The Olympics, objective number 1
Whether it wins or loses, the French team will not forget that the essential objective remains the Paris Games next summer, where it will be a question of keeping the gold obtained in Tokyo. Perhaps again and again against the same opponent as this Sunday. “Today, these are the best teams, those who dominate this sport with Denmark,” notes the former captain. These three will claim the Olympic title. »
But if, before shining at home, captain Estelle Nze Minko and her colleagues can win the third world crown of French handball, after 2003 and 2017, they will not deprive themselves of it. Especially if it could be a blow to the morale of the Norwegians.