Les Bleues crowned world champions for the third time

2023-12-17 21:39:00

The French handball players became world champions for the third time after 2003 and 2017 by beating Norway, 31 to 28, Sunday in the final in Herning (Denmark). By dominating their historic rivals, the Blues have ideally prepared for the Paris Games where they will defend their Olympic title in seven months.

Twenty years after their first world title, six years after their second and a year and a half after the Olympic title won in Tokyo, the Blues are placing France a little further at the top of handball, where the Norwegians have until now reigned.

Double European champions and reigning world champions, the Scandinavians this time were unable to shatter the dreams of glory of the French, as they did in the final of Euro-2020 (22-20), from World Cup-2021 (29-22) and in the semi-finals of Euro-2022 (28-20).

Two victories in one week against Stine Oftedal’s team, after the one acquired last Sunday at the conclusion of the main round (24-23), in Trondheim in front of the Norwegian public: this 2023 vintage French team, which has not lost a single match of the year, was untouchable.

Defend the Olympic title in Paris next year

However, she arrived in Scandinavia three weeks ago with the sole stated objective of measuring her progress before the great challenge of defending the Olympic title in Paris next year. They also wanted to open up the offensive game, failing at the Euro last year against the Norwegians who had highlighted a traditional weak point of the Blues, who left Slovenia full of bitterness.

A year later, Ljubljana’s tears are dried and they have added a string to their bow. As well as a title to their collection. They still rely on a fierce and organized defense, despite the absence of their boss for ten years, Béatrice Edwige, removed to make way for the youth.

This weapon ended up wearing down the Norwegians of Henny Reistad (5/6) during a second period much less lively than the first (20-17 at half-time), where France held on after feeling a comeback in her neck the breath of Katrine Lunde and her teammates (26-25, 49th).

She could also have avoided cold sweats at the end of the match if Alicia Toublanc had concluded her counter-attack in the net and not on the bar six minutes from the end on a +5 ball (29-25).

The Blues seem even more effective on counter-attacks, their other ten-year guarantee. Like the one concluded by captain Estelle Nze Minko, after having intercepted the ball herself, to create a first gap at the end of the first period (17-14, 24th). And they progressed through placed attacks, like this textbook action to shift Chloé Valentini to her left wing (24-21, 37th).

Grandveau as a hero

This third title is also that of a very homogeneous group, where almost each player made their contribution. Laura Glauser had been shining in goal for a week? On Sunday, the torch was taken up by Hatadou Sako (4 saves on 16 shots including a penalty), who entered the second half and closed the shop by diverting a shot from Skogrand two minutes from the end. Sarah Bouktit, 21, took over perfectly in the penalty shootout (2/3), while Léna Grandveau (5/6), one year younger, delivered a sparkling end to the match. ALSO READ Paris Olympics: “These Games are a springboard for handball for the next ten years”

Trained as a center half, the Nantes player replaced Laura Flippes at short notice, who received a knock in the first half, at right-back even though she is right-handed – and therefore has a lesser shooting angle. With the carefreeness of his 20 years, Grandveau scored the last four goals of the Bleues in a “Boxen” of Herning all in red dressed in the colors of Denmark and neighboring Norway.

On the field of which the French women rushed at the final whistle to celebrate a third world title which shines with particular brilliance twenty years after the first and seven months before the Paris Olympic Games.