After a painful success against Angola (30-29) during its first match, then a second, more convincing victory against Iceland (31-22), the French handball team beat Slovenia ( 31-27), Monday evening in Stavanger (Norway). The players of Olivier Krumbholz, for whom this should be the last World Cup in blue since he will leave the selection after the 2024 Games, therefore make three out of three in this preliminary round.
Les Bleues will therefore enter the main round with 4 points. The points won during the first group phase are in fact retained in the second phase, so it was very important to win this match against the strongest opponent in this group.
It’s done, and in a good way, the Tricolores have mastered their subject, driven by the offensive performance of Léna Grandveau (6 goals). Opposite, Slovenian left-back Tjasa Sanko survived (7 goals), but will not forget the solidity of Hatadou Sako and his 9 saves in the French cage.
Norway on the Blue Road
In the next round, France will fall on quite a piece, with Norway, also with 4 points. At home, the reigning world champions will try to prevent the French from taking revenge for the previous final lost two years ago (29-22). Austria, with 2 points, and South Korea, with 0 points, will also make up this group. You will have to finish among the first two teams to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Next match for the French on Wednesday at 6 p.m., against the Austrians, in Trondheim (Norway)