A Euro semi-final against Sweden already awaits the French handball players on Friday in Cologne, forced in the meantime to face Hungary on Wednesday (6:00 p.m.).
How can we maintain their dynamic, without jeopardizing their freshness or going through the “
apotheke
”, the pharmacy in German?
“
I have experienced lots of competitions with different scenarios, the same thing never happens.
Sometimes you are qualified, you have a match that is a bit pointless and it takes you out of rhythm, observed Blues captain Luka Karabatic on Sunday.
»I hope we will have gained enough confidence in the group to make it to the semi-final.«
Because against the Hungarians, they only have life points to lose, in the language of video games, very popular with several of them, including their game master Nedim Remili, to occupy the days at their hotel in Cologne .
Establishment where an influenza virus is circulating among the teams: after Germany and Croatia, here it is in French organizations, including that of Guillaume Gille, who coughed on Tuesday at a press conference.
Virus at the hotel
“There are sick people, you hear,” said the technician.
You can hear it almost everywhere in the corridors of the hotel.
It's part of the inconveniences of winter and contact team sports where we are stuck to each other 24/7.
When the virus enters the group, we find ourselves with a greater potential spread.”
Taking this variable into account, for the Olympic champions, against Hungary, it is a question of maintaining their invincibility in this European Championship while preserving as far as possible the executives most in demand: Dika Mem (232 minutes ), Ludovic Fabregas (210), Nikola Karabatic (201) and Nedim Remili (184).
“
We are not gambling our lives on this match.
The objective is to be in good shape, ready to face Sweden in the best physical and mental condition
,” summarizes Guillaume Gille.
For this 'Gino' can count on already numerous rotations since the start of the tournament since six other outfield players also have more than 100 minutes on the field.
No dead end
As for the others, they have a place at the Paris-2024 Olympic Games in six months to win.
If at the Euro, the boss of the Blues has 19 players from whom he selects 16 for each match, at the Olympic Games, he will only be able to count on a group of 14 men plus a reserve.
Some present across the Rhine will therefore miss the deadline of the year, or even of a lifetime, this summer.
“
It’s a fair analysis,” confirms center-half Kentin Mahé.
Some must show that they are present, motivated, ready to contribute to this team.
It certainly plays in the minds of the coaches
.”
To hear him say, there is no question of ignoring it
.
“When we wear this jersey, we don’t throw away matches
,” says Pascal Mahé’s son
.
“Leaving the half with a defeat and a bitter taste is not what we aspire to.
We are going to play the match to the fullest
.”
Guillaume Gille professes:
“This match is a stepping stone towards the semi-final
”.