Handball: Alain Portes, the former Blue who finds France with Algeria

He had been left in early 2016 coach of the French women's team on his way to the Rio Games.

He had been dismissed bluntly after dark stories with his players: “What we did at that time was disgusting, recalls Alain Portes.

My pride is to have rebuilt myself on my own because they tried to destroy me.

Fortunately, there are some who have missed their mark.

Unless Nîmes, my city, my club, calls me, I do not miss training in France because I am having fun in what I do.

"

We find him today at the head of the Algerian selection, he, the former 59-year-old international with 216 selections (1983-1992), bronze medalist at the Barcelona Olympics and elected in 2002 best French left winger of all time by the federation.

"Finding them makes me neither hot nor cold"

At the start of the second round of the World Cup in Egypt, the Algerians challenge the Blues of Guillaume Gille (6 pm, BeIN Sport 1).

This is the first time in eighteen years that the two nations have come face to face.

“Personally, when I was Tunisia coach

(Editor's note: 2009-2013)

, I faced France in almost all the major competitions, so finding them once again doesn't make me hot or cold.

I just have a few beautiful memories with this blue jersey that will come to mind but the page is turned.

"

The program of the main tour ✊📺

France ⚡ Algeria |

January 20 6:00 pm |

@beinsports_FR

Iceland ⚡ France |

January 22 6:00 pm |

@beinsports_FR

Portugal ⚡ France |

January 24 8:30 pm |

@beinsports_FR and @TMCtv #BleuetFier # Egypt2021 pic.twitter.com/0YXyjVJWfp

- France Hand Teams (@FRAHandball) January 19, 2021

Alain Portes now has an Algerian heart, a selection he has been leading since July 2019: “During the 1990s and then the 2000s, confesses the coach, Algerian handball was strong, present in all major competitions.

And then there was a hole, a lack of resources.

The last Algerian World Cup dates back to 2015 in Qatar and they finished last.

"

Everything had to be started from scratch and the country is starting to draw the first dividends.

“I have a few players who play in Starligue

(Lidl Starligue, the French first division),

others in Spain or Qatar but most of them play in the Algerian championship.

They open their eyes wide when they discover the big halls of a World Championship.

I have a few boys who were already there in 2015 but most of them are new to high level.

"

🇵🇹🆚🇩🇿 Portugal take their third straight win as they beat Algeria.

The three opening victories represent their best ever start at the IHF Men's World Championship 💪 # Egypt2021 pic.twitter.com/9eaXPsStgr

- International Handball Federation (@ihf_info) January 18, 2021

So far, the Algerians are not doing badly: Algeria is in the second round in Egypt after beating Morocco (24-23) by going up 7 goals in the second half, but stuck in front of Iceland (39-24) and looked Portugal in the eye (26-19).

“We are here to learn and gain experience in order to grow, says Alain Portes.

Against France, we are aware that the march is high, that it can be a very unbalanced match.

I know that my players will be impressed when they meet the French with their huge CV in the hallway.

It's normal.

But I'm going to ask them not to watch them play because that's the risk.

I want us to look good to show France the best possible face of the Algerian hand that deserves our attention.

"

"I do not work in the same universe"

After the confrontation with France, Algeria will challenge Norway and Switzerland.

By the end of the week, Portes players will have completed their training at the very highest level.

“Our path will undoubtedly end in the second round, forecasts the coach.

But it's already very good to have arrived at this stage.

Behind, we will play in March a TQO (

Olympic Qualification Tournament

) in Berlin with Germany, Sweden and Slovenia.

Going to Tokyo will not be easy but we are bringing Algeria back to the world handball map and it is already a good first step.

"

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It was the first mission assigned to the French when arriving in Algiers.

“The Covid made this mission difficult,” he says.

Algerian borders have been closed since March.

I spend half of my time in Algeria where traveling is very complicated.

We had positive Covid cases in the fall in the group.

We had to shorten courses, sometimes tinkering.

We played few preparation matches.

Some of my guys have seven legs when the French have thirty.

I do not work in the same universe.

But it does not matter.

It's part of the adventure and, humanly, it's fantastic.

"