Handball World Cup: 3 things to know before France - Iceland

The road to the quarter-finals is strewn with pitfalls for the France team.

After Algeria, and another complicated victory (29-26) on Wednesday, it's Iceland's turn to stand up to the Blues, this Friday (6 p.m., beIN Sports 1), the last stage before the big meeting -you against Portugal, Sunday (8:30 p.m., TMC and beIN Sports 1).

Win at all costs

After the victory (29-28) of Norway against Portugal, it is essential for Guillaume Gille's men to win.

France, which has six points, has in fact only two steps ahead of these two nations who no longer have the right to make mistakes, even if the other teams that make up the pool (Switzerland and Algeria) have shown that they were not foils.

"We obviously want to impose ourselves in order to continue our adventure in this competition," admitted the French coach after Algeria.

The two points at stake would bring us even closer to the quarter-finals.

We're going to work hard to be ready, and on time.

"

Quickly find serenity

France started its World Cup with remarkable success against Norway, the strongest opponent.

Since then, she has cultivated the paradox by aligning the victories while playing less and less well.

Halfway through his desired course to the title, we must quickly straighten the bar: “We must not take down any opponent, analyzes Luc Abalo, the winger of the Blues.

Only then will we have fun and have good matches.

We have the impression that if we don't start well, we are in the wrong spirit.

Yet everyone wants to do well every time.

The problem is that you start to panic as soon as things are not going in the right direction.

We must therefore gain serenity.

We are no longer the great French team of ten years ago, rather in reconstruction and necessarily perfectible.

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Iceland and its pride

Even if its last feat of arms dates back to Euro 2010 (bronze medal), and although it no longer has any chance of qualifying, Iceland will not give up.

We can trust Guðmundur Guðmundsson, his coach of the glorious years (and Denmark's Olympic champion in Rio) to motivate his troops.

“This formation does not have large templates but it still offers a muscular defense, strong on the opponent, specifies Erick Mathé, Guillaume Gille's assistant.

The Icelandic coach is experienced, but the France team is not the same today.

It is certain that the Icelanders will not let go of the meeting.

In addition, we see it in every match, our opponents all want to perform well against us.

We expect a serious game from them.

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