In the semi-final of Euro 2022 handball, scheduled for Friday, the French women inherited the Norwegians, tamed by the Danes (31-20) Wednesday November 16 in Ljubljana during the last day of the main round. The French Olympic champions will thus face those who beat them in the finals of Euro 2020 and the 2021 World Cup. The other semi-final will oppose Denmark and Montenegro.
In the meantime, already qualified and assured of first place in their group, Les Bleues have extended their invincibility in this European championship by largely dominating Spain (36-23) in Skopje. A meeting against a Roja already eliminated, without the slightest stake, except to demonstrate how high the Blues hover, who flew over their six matches of the tournament, during which they were not led.
The interest was rather on the Scandinavian face-to-face nearly a thousand kilometers away, in Ljubljana. The names of the possible opponents of the French were crossed out as the results of the last day of the main round fell, until only the shock Norway-Denmark remained.
French frames preserved
Both teams had already qualified at kick-off, but had every reason to want to win to avoid meeting the Olympic champions in the semi-finals. Proof of this is the number of rough duels at the end of the match which could leave traces. In the Scandinavian cages, the duel at a distance turned to the disadvantage of Sandra Toft against the stainless Katrine Lunde (42 years old).
For their part, on the contrary, before flying to Ljubljana on Thursday morning, the Blues saved themselves. As he had announced, coach Olivier Krumbholz has preserved his most sought-after players since the start of the tournament: pivot Pauletta Foppa, goalkeeper Cléopâtre Darleux and rear Laura Flippes. Conversely, he launched third goalkeeper Camille Sinceet and young center half Léna Grandveau (19), who each played their first minutes in a major international tournament.