The games between the reigning Olympic champions and the European champions promised to be as stifling as they were delicious. The poster did not disappoint.
It was finally the Norwegians, bronze in Tokyo, who won the world title by winning (22-29) against the French in the final of the world handball championships, Sunday, December 19.
Despite a first half where they were irresistible (they had up to six goals in advance), the Blue suffered the Norwegian fury and the decisive saves of Silje Solberg in the cages in the second period (50% of stops on the match).
Everything had started wonderfully for the Blues. Like the back Estelle Nze Minko (2/3), the executives who had missed their start in the semi-final against Denmark, launched the Blue perfectly. By relying on a big defense, by slamming several long shots, by serving their pivot Pauletta Foppa (3/4) wonderfully well, by concretizing their throws of seven meters through the intermediary of Allison Pineau (4/5) and by limiting their losses of ball, the players of Olivier Krumbholz had erased all that could separate them from a world coronation.
They even managed to muzzle Norwegian handball star Nora Mork (2/6 at halftime, 5/10 overall). The figures are also happy with the wonderful first 25 minutes of this meeting with an 80% success against 50% for the Norwegians. A performance to which the gatekeeper of the Bleues, Laura Glauser, and her six stops in the first period is no stranger. Then, the machine derailed before exploding.
There were two periods, one when the France team is very good. The turning point is this bad end of the first half. We’re making a bad change, too. We miss the opportunity to increase the score. Then we miss too many things. We start the second half outnumbered and we take goals, it hurt us.
Olivier Krumbholz, coach of the France teamat the microphone of BeIn
At halftime, the Habs were leading 16-12. It took two short minutes for the Norwegians to come back to equality. The fury was launched. While the Blue multiplied ball losses (19 in all), too recurrent in this competition, two monsters caught fire. In the cages, Silje Solberg blocked eight shots, on the field the versatile back Henny Reistad (6/9) planted seven goals in six minutes. Opposite, the Blues remained silent for nearly nine minutes.
This time again, the march was too high for the Blue, probably exhausted by their extended season, and very strong oppositions in their course in this World, unlike the Norwegians. As in the final of the European Championships 2020, they must be satisfied with the silver metal against Norway. “There were a lot of young players who were playing their first final. The important thing is that they learn.”, concluded the coach of the Bleues at the microphone of BeIn.