Les Bleues finish two weeks of preparation on a mixed note before heading towards Paris 2024

After two demonstrations against Italy and Latvia during the last qualifying matches for Euro 2024, the French women’s handball team won against Romania on Sunday (30-28).

“It didn’t really go as we hoped.”. Like their captain, Estelle Nze Minko, the Blues were disappointed after their narrow victory (30-28) against Romania, Sunday April 14, in Clermont. After two weeks of gathering, the reigning Olympic and world champions hoped to dispose of the Romanians more easily. However, they retain the work accomplished to plan towards the Olympic summer.

After two qualifying matches for Euro 2024 which counted for nothing since the ticket was already validated, against Italy (36-13) and Latvia (53-9) – opponents against whom it is difficult to draw lessons due to their shortcomings – the Bleues were keen to finish their last gathering before Paris 2024 in style.

“A not very successful match”

That was without counting on a Romanian team of a stronger caliber, eye-catching and over-motivated by the idea of ​​achieving a good result against the best team in the world. “It wasn’t a very successful match. We lacked precision, we were impatient with the ball, we lost a few balls even though it’s an area that usually gives us confidence. We failed in shooting, we had difficulty putting our opponent in difficulty in defenselists Estelle Nze Minko. We’re not at the end of our rope, but we sure would have liked to end this internship differently.”

At the end of the meeting, coach Olivier Krumbholz regretted a performance “below their level” of its players. “It was a long internship, with a lot of work, and there are some who seem to me to be at the end of this period”, he continued. It must be said that during these two weeks, and particularly the last one in Clermont, the players did not have much free time. “We had half a day off, where we were able to go to the thermal baths for those who wanted to. And we spent an evening at the restaurant which did us good, but apart from that, it was training, training , and training”commented Grace Zaadi on the eve of the match against Romania.

“Time saved for this summer”

An intensive week necessary to best prepare for the summer deadline. “Having this second week of work, in the wake of qualifying for the Euro, was obvious. We know that the Norwegians and the Danes will work hard to beat us, it’s up to us to keep moving forward.” explained Olivier Krumbholz.

The Blues therefore changed setting by settling for the week in Clermont-Ferrand. “We are in superb conditions, we are received like princes. We like it at the Maison du handball, but it’s true that Créteil, after 5 or 6 days, it becomes complicated. We don’t see anyone, we can’t not play a match because there is no interesting gauge for official matches in Paris. Here, there is everything. Contact with the public, a match where the hall will be full, that makes people happy. welcome us, there are all the advantages inherent to the province”rejoiced the coach.

In these conditions, the French team worked on speed in counter-attack, as well as adaptive strategies in defense. During training sessions open to the media, speed of execution when moving up the ball, new offensive combinations, and even a 2-4 defense were at the heart of the sessions. “This time taken is time saved for this summer”, explains Grace Zaadi. “We carried out physical tests, physiotherapy tests, doctor tests, it was important to get to Capbreton (where the Blues will prepare for the Olympics), knowing what we need to work on. I feel that in training, we created automatisms that we didn’t necessarily have before”is satisfied with Chloé Valentini.

Expensive places to appear on the Olympic list

In total, the staff was able to observe 21 players, since four joined a first group of 16 for the second week in Clermont, and Pauline Coatanea was called to compensate for the loss of Alicia Toublanc, injured in the internal oblique. The training nevertheless ended without Aïssatou Kouyaté, victim of a sprained ankle.

Olivier Krumbholz will have to reduce his list to 14 players plus three substitutes for the Olympics. “Obviously, there is a little stress in everyone’s heads, we know that it is very tight, everyone dreams of doing these Olympic Games in Paris, so we have to fight for our place, but we must also show good handball and that is not necessarily what we did this evening We will have to put things back in order from the first day of preparation.indicates Laura Flippes.

The coach imagines a pre-list of “18 to 20 players” for the Capbreton internship. “When you’re a smart coach, you avoid telling someone that they won’t make the Games, if you ever have to come back with your tail between your legs because you need them.” he said, while assuring that “the title of world champion shed some light on the situation”. He will still cross his fingers that no one gets injured in the club, “even if we’re not going to ask them to put the handbrake on, because that’s the best way to get hurt if you’re not physically involved enough”.

The Messines (Hatadou Sako, Chloé Valentini, Sarah Bouktit, and Lucie Granier) will notably compete in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and can aim for the treble with the championship and the Coupe de France. Good results could serve as a launching pad for the Olympics, the prospect of which will become more and more concrete during the draw for the Olympic tournaments on Tuesday April 16.