Ten years since that happened! This January 28, 2024, in Cologne, Germany, at the end of a thrilling 60-minute match against Denmark, the Blues won the European Handball Cup! A first since 2014! And the French owe this fourth European title in their history to Nikola Karabatic, his brother Luka, and their teammates.
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra presents despite the controversy
This is why the French team was received on January 29, 2024, at the Élysée, by the Head of State, Emmanuel Macron. Brigitte Macron’s husband saw this as very good news for the Paris Olympic Games, which will take place in the summer of 2024. Also, he announced to the athletes: “the whole world will want to come to Paris to want to beat you and win a new title”. And to add: “I have immense confidence because you hate losing and the Blues have already won the Olympic double in 2008 and 2012, the coach (Guillaume Gille) was there, Nikola (Karabatic, editor’s note) too.”
Despite the latest controversies surrounding his appointment to Education, a few weeks ago, the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, was also on site. She, who followed the Blues to Germany for their coronation, showed a big smile. The President of the Republic, a little jealous of his trip, admitted that he had followed the matches from behind his screen with interest.
The Blues not blocked by farmers
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Paris and in many places in France, farmers had decided to block the roads, to make their anger heard. Fortunately for the French collective, the train dropped them off directly in the capital, and it was a coach that took them to the Élysée.
Reception of the 2024 European Handball Champions: our French team! pic.twitter.com/5mLwpl0SQC — Élysée (@Elysee) January 29, 2024
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