Without forcing its talent, the France team easily defeated Saudi Arabia for its second match in this World Cup.
The French hand team qualified for the main round of the Men’s World Cup even before its last match after its easy victory against modest Saudi Arabia (41-23) on Saturday in Katowice (Poland).
The Blues, already winners in the opening of Poland (26-24), will face Slovenia on Monday for their last match of the first round with the objective of approaching the main phase with full points for a qualification for the quarter-finals.
They did not force their talent against the weakest opponent in the group, even bordering on casualness in the first twenty minutes, between lack of defensive involvement, imprecise passes and shots without too much conviction.
They were immediately penalized by a 3-0 from the Saudis, all amateurs, then back to two lengths (12-10, 17th).
Before a tightening of bolts which resulted in seven goals scored without conceding a single one, including four from right winger Yanis Lenne, to finally bend the case before the break (19-10, 24th).
In the same position as Lenne, Valentin Porte (2/3) found his way back to the field after missing the first match due to a small discomfort in one thigh.
Captain Luka Karabatic, also forfeited in the opening match (back), was once again preserved, like right-back Dika Mem, for the upcoming fixtures.
This meeting without uncertainty about the final result also allowed coach Guillaume Gille to “give food”, as he explained the day before, to those who had little or no playing time during the opening match or in warm-up matches.
Among them, left-back Elohim Prandi, who did not really grasp the outstretched pole: after a rather good start (two goals), he seriously dropped his foot, between shooting failures (31st, 3/5 in the end ) and bad passes (38th).
The Parisian was replaced in the last quarter of an hour by Raphaël Lagarde, who also stretched his legs (1/3).
Like the second goalkeeper Rémi Desbonnet, who entered at the start of the second period (seven saves) following an inconclusive Vincent Gérard (5 saves out of 19).
Then the third, Charles Bolzinger (a save), who had his first international cap at the very end of the match.