In the enclosure of Granollers, in Spain, it floated like a Tokyo perfume, Monday, December 13. The poster set the tone: France, reigning Olympic champion, faced Russia, Olympic vice-champion. What to announce a rough remake for this third game of the main round. And as in Japan, it is again Pauletta Foppa who offered a festival of achievements.
Pauletta Foppa didn’t stumble. Having entered her World Cup, the 20-year-old prodigy scored 4 goals in the first period. On a splendid passes in the back of Pineau, Foppa scored from six meters his first goal of the evening (12-9). Already in the final of the Tokyo Olympics (30-25), the player from Brest had shown a remarkable reading of the game, scoring no less than 7 goals.
France, offered an offensive festival and quickly took the step on Russia, despite a cold start (2-5, 7 ‘). En power, the France team unrolled a more than successful score, linking shots and parades. At halftime, the table already showed a five-goal gap (17-12).
MVP of the match: Pauletta Foppa!
What a match for Brestoise again#RUSFRA # Spain2021– Made in Hand (@MadeinHand) December 13, 2021
The second act was just as successful, turning to the correction. The Russian team, reshaped and rejuvenated since the Olympics after the departure of its executives, were struggling.
Enough to gain confidence and ease, as coach Olivier Krumbhloz underlined: “We had a very good game, very pleasant, we enjoyed playing, we did very good things in attack, with good goals, in defense we were solid, we had decoded their game quite well (. ..) We are progressing well towards a formidable quarter-final. “
If the France team was already qualified for the quarter-finals, still had to ensure first place in the group to benefit from a favorable draw. It is now done. Olivier Krumbholz’s players continued their flawless performance by securing a sixth victory in 6 games.
Because the other stake of the evening was to know the opponent of the France team. Norway, scarecrow figure of the World Cup, won in pain against the Netherlands and finished at the top of the group. The Dutch eliminated, it is therefore Sweden, second in its group, which will face the Tricolores.
♀️ Handball World Cup
️ Allison Pineau: “We made the game easy tonight”#RUSFRA #HandAction pic.twitter.com/idVT9Ird99– Hand Action (@HandAction) December 13, 2021
A team that likes fast play and should offer a different style of opposition. “It promises to be electric, like at the Games where we had met them twice, recognized Allisson Pineau at the exit of the field. Their draw against Norway revived them. They like to play very fast but also run over, play very physical.“To get to the end of the World Cup, you’ll have to beat the best,” and Sweden is one of them “.