2023-12-11 16:32:24
Guillaume Gille, the coach of the France team, convened a group of 23 players this Monday to prepare for the European Championship (January 10 to 28 in Germany). The Blues will play their first match on January 10 in Düsseldorf against North Macedonia before challenging Switzerland (January 14), then Germany (January 16) in the first round.
The Olympic champions will come together for a first training course at the handball house in Créteil from December 21 to 24 before meeting in Nantes for the French tournament from January 1 to 7. “I wanted to call on a larger group in order to connect a large part of the resources of the French team at the start of preparation for the Euro, before the reduction in the workforce,” indicates Guillaume Gille. The intention of this course is to carry out assessments and individualize everyone’s program to optimize preparation until January 10 and our first match. »
This course, earlier than previous seasons where the players were traditionally gathered from December 26 to 30, “allows us to offer a break of recovery around the end of year celebrations and to recharge the batteries,” aims Guillaume Gille who planned the course. in consultation with the clubs. The objective is to meet the players from January 1 in Nantes and the Tournoi de France, with freshness and dynamism. »
No big surprise in the group made up of the backbone of the team which returned from the last World Cup at the start of 2023 with a silver medal. Captain of the Blues, Luka Karabatic is obviously there like his brother, Nikola, who will play his last Euro. Chosen at left-back, his selection bodes well with a view to seeing him at the Games. No surprises except perhaps one: the presence of Kiel goalkeeper Vincent Gérard.
Suffering from pubalgia for many months, the Kiel goalkeeper has not yet played again. But he is there. “With the agreement of Kiel, Vincent will continue his rehabilitation and the specific work on the goalkeeper position,” explains the coach. There are thus 4 goalkeepers in the list: Gérard, Bolzinger, Desbonnet, Bellahcene and one will not be on the trip. The day before the first Euro match, the coach will have to submit a list of 20 players from which he will choose 16 for each match.
The group. Goalkeepers: Samir Bellahcene (Kiel), Charles Bolzinger (Montpellier), Rémi Desbonnet (Montpellier), Vincent Gérard (Kiel); Left wingers: Hugo Descat (Veszprem), Mathieu Grebille (PSG), Dylan Nahi (Kielce); Left backs: Thibaud Briet Nantes) – Nikola Karabatic (PSG) – Timothey N’Guessan (Barcelona) – Élohim Prandi (PSG); Center halves: Kentin Mahé (Veszprèm), Aymeric Minne (Nantes) – Nedim Remili (Veszprèm); Pivots: Ludovic Fabregas (Veszprèm) – Luka Karabatic (PSG) – Karl Konan (Montpellier) – Nicolas Tournat (Kielce); Right-backs: Dika Mem (Barcelona) – Melvyn Richardson (Barcelona); Right wingers: Benoit Kounkoud (Kielce) – Yanis Lenne (Montpellier) – Valentin Porte (Montpellier)
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