It is an explosive final that promises to be. The French, reigning Olympic champions, face, Sunday, December 18, at 5.30 p.m., Norway, European champion last year and bronze medalist in Tokyo.
The final of the handball world championship promises a fierce duel between two nations accustomed to meeting at the highest level. And if this poster hasn’t convinced you yet, here are five appetizer arguments.
Because they are the two best teams in the world
In 2020, the European Championship poster was identical to that of Sunday. France was already facing Norway. In the game of international titles, the two nations advance neck and neck over the past twenty years. Olympic champion in 2008 and 2012, bronze in 2016 and 2020, Norway is ahead of France, Olympic champion in Tokyo, vice-champion in Rio in 2016.
On the European scene, the Norwegians have won seven European champion titles (and one vice-champion title) over the last nine editions. The French have won two titles and three silver medals (since 2002).
In the world championship, both teams are regulars on the podium. Norway and France have each won two world titles in the last nine editions (since 2003). Only Russia did better (sacred in 2005, 2007, 2009).
Note that the French will play Sunday in the sixth world championship final in their history. They had obtained silver in 1999, 2009 and 2011, and gold in 2003 and 2017. A third title would allow them to join the very closed club of the best handball nations of all time (Russia, 7 titles – Norway , 3 titles).
Because a victory would sign a historic international double
Few nations can boast of having won an international double within a few months. In history, only the girls of the USSR (1980 Olympics, 1982 World Cup) and Denmark (1996 Olympics, 1997 World Cup) achieved the double in that order.
The Norwegians, for their part, have held the three major handball titles by becoming European champions in 2010, world champions in 2011 and Olympic champions at the London Games in 2012, at the height of their domination.
The Bleues of Olivier Krumbholz will be keen to seek a prestigious double to consolidate their hold on world handball a little more.
You imagine ?
Rio 2016:
Euro 2016:
World Cup 2017:
Euro 2018:
World Cup 2019:
Euro 2020:
Tokyo 2020:
World Cup 2021: where?
7 medals in 8 competitions for #WomenDeTalent #HandballSpirit– Esprit Handball Caisse d’Epargne (@EspritHandball) December 17, 2021
Because Norway is the bête noire of French women
French and Norwegian meet very regularly in the last four of major international competitions. Meetings that often turn to the advantage of the Scandinavians, who won in the semi-final of the Euro in 2004, then in the final of the world championship in 2011 (24-32), and in the semi-final of the ‘Euro in 2016 (16-10).
But the Blue reversed the trend in 2017, triumphing in the final of the world championship (23-21). On the other hand, return to “normal” in the final of the 2020 European Championship where the Norwegians beat the French (20-22). Very close matches which suggest a tough final on Sunday.
On the world stage, the Norwegians showed aggressive and precise play, led by Stine Oftedal, one of the best players in the world. The Scandinavians thus took their revenge on the Russians (3-28 victory in the quarter-finals), who had deprived them of the final at the Tokyo Games, a little over four months ago.
Only a draw conceded in the main round against Sweden (subsequently eliminated in the quarter-finals by France, 31-26), on December 11, suggested flaws in the players of Thorir Hergeirsson.
Because the last confrontations have been played on a thread
In the last five confrontations between France and Norway, the Habs have conceded four defeats and obtained a draw.
On the last two friendly matches, played in July 2021 in Bayonne, as part of the Olympic preparation, the French had bowed heavily (21-30) before snatching the draw two days later (28-28).
The Habs had already let the victory slip away by a small point (29-28), LOctober 3, 2020 in the Golden League, before finding, less than a month later, their pet peeve in the final of the European Championship (defeat, 22-20).
Hand Euro 2020: the French vice-champions of Europe, beaten by Norway 22 to 20, Sunday evening in the final of Euro 2020 in Herning, Denmark. The disappointment must not let us forget that for 4 years, the France team has been 5 medals in 6 competitions pic.twitter.com/f1IzsIstMj
– Go FRAnçais-es (@ AllezlesFRA) December 20, 2020
Passage marks favorable to the Norway, which allowed the players to gain confidence ahead of Sunday’s final. The Norwegians, frustrated with the bronze medal at the Olympics, are aiming for a world title that has eluded them since 2015.
Because their trainer, Olivier Krumbholz, aims for the record
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Unanimously hailed in Tokyo, the success of Les Bleues is also that of Olivier Krumbholz and his Olympian calm. By winning against Denmark in the semifinals, the Habs coach has already made sure to win a thirteenth international medal as a coach (two Olympic medals, eight world medals, two European medals).
At the end of the match, he will set a new record in France ahead of Claude Onesta (twelve medals), coach of the French men’s team from 2001 to 2016, who had achieved with his players the Olympic-World double in 2008 and 2009. .
What to set the tone for the meeting which is announced Sunday between France and Norway, in Granollers (Spain).