For the national handball selections too, we have to deal with the cases of Covid. Ahead of the Euro in Hungary and Slovakia, which begins Thursday, January 13, preparations are truncated as and when positive tests appear in the workforce. And that of the Blues is no exception.
Friday January 7, Guillaume Gille announced his expanded list of 20 players for the friendly match against Germany, scheduled for Sunday in Wetzlar (7 p.m.). The same ones who are due to take part in the continental competition a few days later. Among them is the captain of the France team, Valentin Porte. However, the Montpellier winger, tested positive on Thursday, will stay away from the group pending a negative test, as revealed by the Blues coach.
“Valentin Porte had a positive PCR test yesterday, so that’s why we chose to take Julien Bos. This problem worries us but we have no new positive cases in the team. drastic measures to protect the group.The situation has been complex for 24 hours, we are not in a serene preparation with the virus and its variants but we adapt (…) In the best case, Valentin respects his isolation for five days and then has a new negative test which would allow him to join us, but we know that the test can stay positive a little longer … “
In his absence, the armband should be worn by an “emblematic” of the France team, even if the coach did not let any name filter out.
Here is the list of our BLUES who will be competing in the EURO! ✊#BlueberryProud # ehfeuro2022 pic.twitter.com/3RBoH3CFri
– French Handball teams (@FRAHandball) January 7, 2022
Theo Monar, also tested positive on January 2, at the start of the second internship, should join the France team next week, as soon as his PCR test becomes negative again. “He is at the end of his Covid period and awaiting a negative test which would allow him to be with us, before performing a new test once there to join the team”, added Guillaume Gille. As a result, the Blues will only have two pivots on Sunday against Germany with Ludovic Fabregas and Nicolas Tournat.
In the goals, Rémi Desbonnet and Wesley Pardin were selected to accompany Vincent Gérard. “Wesley had the start of the adventure at the World Cup in Egypt, Rémi was part of the Olympic adventure and they seemed to us to be ready to go to the Euro”, explained Guillaume Gille. “Vincent arrives with a significant work deficit, he also needs to meet up with others, to find a place, to show his qualities again, like everyone else. The plan for the goalkeeper position is not defined. . But Vincent will be mainly in support. “
The Blues will make their debut in this Euro 2022 against Croatia, next Thursday at 8:30 p.m. They will then challenge Ukraine (January 15 at 6 p.m.) and Serbia (January 17 at 8:30 p.m.).
The 20 Blues selected for the Euro:
Guardians: Rémi Desbonnet (Usam Nîmes Gard) – Vincent Gérard (Paris Saint-Germain HB) – Wesley Pardin (Pays d’Aix University Club)
Left wingers: Hugo Descat (Montpellier HB) – Dylan Nahi (Kielce)
Left backs: Nikola Karabatic (Paris SG HB) – Karl Konan (Pays d’Aix Université Club) – Romain Lagarde (Pays d’Aix Université Club) – Thibaud Briet (HBC Nantes)
Half centers: Kentin Mahé (Telekom Veszprem HC) – Aymeric Minne (HBC Nantes)
Pivots: Ludovic Fabregas (FC Barcelona) – Nicolas Tournat (PGE Vive Kielce) – Théo Monar (HBC Nantes)
Right backs: Dika Mem (FC Barcelona) – Melvyn Richardson (FC Barcelona) – Julien Bos (Montpellier HB)
Right wingers: Benoît Kounkoud (Paris SG HB) – Yanis Lenne (Montpellier HB) – Valentin Porte (Montpellier HB – Cap)