2023-12-10 23:35:06
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 20 minutes ago, Updated 3 minutes ago
Horacek. BEATE OMA DAHLE / AFP
Les Bleues won this Sunday evening against Norway in Trondheim (24-23). And qualify for the quarter-finals.
A small feat: the French women’s handball team finally beat Norway in competition, what’s more at home in Trondheim on Sunday (24-23), a success which allows it to continue its flawless performance at the World Cup and to have a more affordable quarter-final.
Instead of facing the Netherlands, first in group IV, the Blues, who topped Pool II of the main round ahead of Norway (10 pts against 8) will face the Czech surprise, Tuesday still in Trondheim.
The Czechs eliminated the Spaniards and represent a bad memory for the Olympic champions who, reshuffled, lost against them in April 2022 as part of qualifying for the Euro (31-30).
But the Blues are approaching this sort of revenge with full confidence, after having collected a sixth victory in as many matches and brilliantly passed the test against the Norwegians, reigning world champions and double European champions.
Along the way, they broke their black streak against the Scandinavians, who had won their last three competitive confrontations (28-20 in the semi-finals of Euro-2022, 29-22 in the final of the World Cup-2021 and 22-20 in the Euro-2020 final). The French won by overcoming a bad start (0-3) and stopping the Norwegian steamroller, although so well oiled until now.
Glauser impassable
They were also able to rely, once again, on an iron defense, behind which Laura Glauser, on alternating current since the start of the World Cup, produced an exceptional performance which disrupted the Norwegian machine, Camilla Herrem in the lead. Her 10 saves on 32 shots do not say everything about her match, during which she won this psychological duel so often won in the past by the Norwegians. While she had alternated until then with Hatadou Sako (one period each), Glauser played the entire match.
The reigning Olympic champions, who benefited from fewer counter-attack balls than in their previous matches, due to the efficient Norwegian withdrawal, also relied on the long-distance right arm of Orlane Kanor (4/8) and the support from captain Estelle Nze Minko (6/8). It was the latter who once again rushed into a mouse hole to score the winning goal, 45 seconds from the end, before Glauser blocked, by conveniently squeezing his legs, Stine’s last attempt Skogrand, a few seconds from the siren. The goalkeeper was celebrated by her teammates, who invaded the field and shouted their joy in front of some 8,000 spectators at the Spektrum.
With this success, the Blues also open up a more favorable final picture. They will only be able to meet the Norwegians in a possible final, an objective now completely accessible.
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