French team in control against the Netherlands

Les Bleues won their second group stage match of the Olympic tournament, against the Netherlands, on Sunday (32-28).

Olivier Krumbholz spoke of the Netherlands as the adversary “with the greatest potential” in the French group for this preliminary round of the Olympic tournament, but its players mastered it without forcing, Sunday July 28 (32-28). After their inaugural victory against Hungary (31-28) on Thursday, the Blues have freed themselves and are gaining momentum. They could secure their qualification for the quarter-finals in their next match against Brazil on Tuesday.

They had promised to make some adjustments after a somewhat complicated start against Hungary. Les Bleues kept their word with a more accomplished match against the Netherlands. All the players raised their level, like a vengeful Chloé Valentini who did not score a single goal against the Hungarians, and who made the Dutch pay the price, with no less than seven goals in the first half and ten in total. “I questioned myself a lot during these three days, I worked technically too, I just wanted to do well, to enjoy myself because I’ve been working for years to be here”she smiled after the meeting.

Even though they had a weak period with a little more waste in the middle of the first period and they were led by two goals with a more fragile defense, the Blues applied the ingredient that makes their success and that they work so much on in training: speed of execution in ball advances and transmissions. “I think we developed a spectacular game by trying to move the ball, to take risks on the wings, we played with our qualities. There was no comparison with the first match that we had missed. We saw a French team close to what it did in December when it won the world title.”Olivier Krumbholz was satisfied.

Her players were leading by three goals at half-time (17-14) and found a little more consistency in defense after the break, helped by a Hatadou Sako who was still in great form, and who played with the crowd after each of her nine saves in the second half. “She brought us a lot because she got a lot of balls out”stressed her coach. A little indiscipline still cost the Blues a few seven-meter throws, and the Dutch remained in contact without however managing to get back into the game.

Thanks to this victory, the Blues are first in their group and on the right track to qualify for the quarter-finals in Lille. But only one thing interests them: first place in the group to inherit a more beatable opponent in the final phase, and for that, they will have to start by beating Brazil on Tuesday.