A victory awaiting Norway. For its second match in the main round of this 2023 World Cup, the French handball team won without shining against South Korea (22-32). A choppy and exciting encounter which still allows us to have a foot in the quarter-finals.
Forty-eight hours after their benchmark match against Austria, Olivier Krumbholz’s players came down a notch against an opponent of a substantially similar level. “A serious match, but not a brilliant match” recognized the coach of the France team, still satisfied with the collective performance before experiencing what he announces as “a test” against the Norwegians.
Less rhythm, less precision
Despite the Koreans leveling with Austria, the scenario was very different against more patient opponents. Like the Japanese on Thursday evening, those who have recently been trained by Henrik Signell have chosen to regularly wait until the arm is raised to accelerate. A trap for the Blue defense, sometimes struggling in the middle, but also for the attack. The desire to speed up the game was lacking in Nze Minko and the others, guilty of losing too many balls to the point of only scoring the first goal after 5 minutes.
Shooting, without forcing, the Blues once again gained confidence, taking advantage of the low level of the opposing goalkeepers who did not make the slightest save in the first half.
Glauser confirms, Bouktit sees red
Opposite, the French goal was much better kept first by Laura Glauser in the first half (39% saves) whose rise in power could definitively offer her the position of number one despite Sako’s good World Cup . Then in the second act by the one who is third in the hierarchy, Camille Sinceet. Messina also gave satisfaction in the second period with 5 saves.
A transition meeting before Norway where we can regret the exclusion of Sarah Bouktik guilty of two successive blows to Ryu’s face. An involuntary gesture but logically punished with a red card. This match event came in a new low moment for the Blues who had gone 8 minutes without a single goal. Periods of less good performance which have been repeated in each match since the start of the competition and which could cost much more on Sunday against the reigning champions who will play in front of their audience (8:30 p.m.).