Les Bleues did not take it easy against a weak Ukrainian team on Saturday January 15, after a first success against Croatia. It is a very inspired and rejuvenated French men’s handball team that has largely won (36-23) at the Pick Arena in Szeged (Hungary), on the occasion of his second Group C match. Barring disaster, Guillaume Gille’s players are almost guaranteed to get their ticket to the main round. This will require not losing more than seven goals against Serbia. For its part, theUkraine has not won a single match in a Euro since 2006.
Despite the absence of Nikola Karabatic, left to rest in the stands, and a lost ball from the first minute, the Blues responded present. They showed great control throughout the game. Serious and diligent in attack, they made very few mistakes (only three ball losses).
The Ukrainians, meanwhile, struggled to find solutions in attack, coming up against a very airtight tricolor defense which repeatedly cut the trajectory on passes to the pivot. The severe expulsion at the start of the second half of Dmytro Horiha, the best Ukrainian player (7/8 in shooting), did not help them get back in the game either.
Above all, this seriousness established from the start allowed the tricolor coach to rotate the workforce. And his rotation worked very well. Like the first minutes in international competition of young Thibaud Briet, who took the place of Nikola Karabatic. The HBC Nantes player (22) responded with great determination and did not force his shots, scoring a magnificent goal from nine meters as soon as he entered the game.
“I’m very happy, it’s my first competition. I wanted to show that I had my place here and have fun”, rejoiced Thibaud Briet at the microphone of beIN Sports at the end of the game.
Gérard’s parade as Thibaud Briet makes his first appearance in international competition and scores directly! #FRAUKR
8 – 4 (12′) pic.twitter.com/zMp8nwgHP7— Spirit Handball Caisse d’Epargne (@EspritHandball) January 15, 2022
“It’s a very serious game against an opponent who we were able to make give up. It’s still a successful match, with lots of satisfaction because there were a lot of rotations. All the players on the field brought a lot of positive about this preparation”, said Guillaume Gille at the microphone of beIN Sports.
The Blues have yet to confirm against Serbia, on the occasion of their last match of the preliminary round, Monday January 17 at 8:30 p.m. The Olympic champions intend to make people forget their resounding failure at Euro 2020, with elimination in the first round.