HUGO DESCAT (FRANCE)
The French team was too strong this evening against the Tunisians who gave their all. An interesting copy, despite small errors explained by a short physical preparation, all the players listed on the match sheet had playing time. To be confirmed Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against Brazil, in an atmosphere that promises to be as hot as ever (35-26 final score).
In the second match of the evening, the Blues will face Tunisia in a festive XXL Hall, where nearly 10,000 French supporters have gathered. If the French team is preparing for the Euro, the Tunisians will play the CAN to hope to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Blues dominating
The French team opened the scoring with its winger Hugo Descat. The Blues make the break in the 3′ with a laser restart of Rémi Desbonnet for his teammate in Montpellier Yannis Lenne (3-0 4′). In fact, the teammates of Nikola Karabatic float in this start of the meeting, too fast, too precise (6-2 7′). Thus, Patrick Cazal, Tunisian coach, is already taking his first time-out. Always at the same pace, the players of Guillaume Gille very strong defensively, a series of interceptions offering them easy counter-attacks and goals, +6 (11-3 12′).
Since the second time-out of Patrick Cazal, Tunisia shows a more conquering face and manages to stop the blue offensives (12-8 18′). It’s a new 7m jetHugo Descat (7/7) which allows the French team to regain a 6-goal lead (17-11 25′), after a Tunisian highlight which had come back just 3 lengths behind the Blues. If after a huge start to the match and a convincing end to the first half, the band Luka Karabatic logically returns to the locker room with a 7-goal lead (20-13).
DIKA MEM – NEDIM REMILI (FRANCE)
Serious to the end
Beginning of the second act, Guillaume Gilles makes new rotations, with the appearances of Charles Bolzinger (10/23 stops) and Melvyn Richardson. A more balanced start to the second half, France was a little messier in attack (22-17 36′). Charles Bolzinger, in very good shape in the championship, is on fire this evening. The Tunisians seem tired, the Blues lock in defensively (26-18 43′).
If the match had lost a little rhythm, it was without counting on Dylan Nahi (4/4 goals) which ignites the Hall XXL, after two superb goals in quick succession (31-22 49′). The milestone of 10 goals has been reached but the EDF players are still moving forward, playing every shot (34-24 55′). The match ends seriously against the Tunisians who will never have given up this evening (35-26 final score).
Heading for the Bahrain for Patrick Cazal’s men this Saturday at Nantes. The Blues will still host Brazil at Hall XXL before the start of the Euro next week.
Nedim Remilione of the team’s offensive leaders, believes in his group and his teammates: “We are proud of what we produce even if we can always do better, we are a perfectionist group so we will settle down to correct our mistakes from Saturday, and finally be ready for the start of the Euro”
Despite mistakes this evening, Guillaume Gille, is confident in the preparation of its players: “There have been some good things, even some very good ones and also some more average ones, despite everything having a very good basis for work. The preparation will increase with adversity from Saturday, that’s what we wanted, we’re in the thick of it now”.
Statistics
Nantes, Hall XXL, 10,500 spectators
Referees: R. Gasmi, K. Gasmi (France)
France :
Coach : Guillaume Gille
Guardians: Bolzinger (10 saves / 23 shots including 1/3 penalty), Desbonnet (9 saves / 21 shots); Lenne (2/4), Rémili (5/6), Prandi (1/3), Richardson (4/5 including 2/2 penalty), Mem (2/2), Tournat (1/1), N. Karabatic (2/3), Mahé (1/2 including 0/1 pen), L. Karabatic (1/2), Fabregas (2/2), Descat (7/7 including 3/3 pen), Porte (2/ 3), Nahi (4/4), Konan, Desbonnet (1/2) – Temporary exclusions: Mem (17′)
Tunisia:
Coach : Patrick Cazal
Guardians: Namli (0 saves / 11 shots including 0/1 penalty), Belkaied, Harbaoui (7 saves / 29 shots including 1/5 penalty); Fekih (1/4), Abdelli (0/1), Aidi (1/3), Hosni (1/3), Sanai (1/3), Maaref (0/2), Rmiki (3/4), Ben Salah (2/2), Rzig (4/6 including 2/2 penalty), Ben Salem (3/7), Zariat (2/4), Toumi (3/5 including 0/1 penalty), Belkaied, Chouiref ( 0/2), Ben Abdallah (3/6), Jbeli (2/3) – Temporary exclusions : Maaref (9′), Jbeli (19′), Sanai (28′)
Aurélien Fort