A time that the under 20s cannot know… To find the trace of an Olympic qualifying tournament in which France had to take part, we have to go back to the end of May 2008, when the Blues, on their way to win their first title a few months later in Beijing, had in turn dominated Tunisia (34-25), Spain (28-24) and Norway (28-23), which was then far from having the level that 'she has today.
This was also the case for the men of Claude Onesta, who began to see themselves given the nickname "Experts" at that time.
And to find traces of an Olympic edition without participating French handball players, it is quite simply necessary to go back to the Games of… Seoul in 1988. An eternity.
“There is obviously more pressure on this TQO than at the World Cup. There, we are talking about qualifying or not for the Olympic Games ”
Valentine's door
Today, however, there is a risk that this wonderful series will come to an abrupt end.
What was not hiding the road captain of the Blues, Michaël Guigou: “It's a reality, and that's what should motivate us even more.
We have very strong opponents in front of us, so there is a real risk of failing.
But this should not frighten us, quite the contrary.
This should motivate us and push us to have an even greater level of demand on the mental and physical level. "
A fear of the void which, inevitably, could weigh on the shoulders of the French, as the right winger Valentin Porte admitted: “There is obviously more pressure on this TQO than at the World Cup.
There, we are talking about qualifying or not for the Olympic Games, an event that takes place every four years.
Finally five this time.
It's the competition that all athletes want to experience at least once in their life, and even more than once if possible. "
The entry final against Croatia?
To qualify, the goal is simple: France must finish in the top two of a group made up of Croatia, Tunisia and Portugal.
A heightened adversity, therefore, especially if we compare it to that which Norway will have to face in another group (Chile, South Korea and Brazil).
And to top it off, Guillaume Gille's men will undoubtedly start with the biggest piece, the defending Croatian vice-champions of Europe.
A confrontation that Porte is already impatiently awaiting: "The stake is so huge that it could look like France-Croatia in the 2009 World Cup final. In addition, it's been a while since we have not beaten them properly, in a high-stakes game.
Maybe now is the time to reverse it all. "
If the Blues took advantage of the recent World Cup in Egypt to get their ideas straight with a 4th place final, the Dalmatians, them, sank during the same competition….
The benefits of the 2021 World Cup
Only 15th, with the resignation along the way of the legendary coach Lino Cervar, Croatia experienced a severe exit from the road.
She will necessarily want to get back on the side of Montpellier, an enclosure that could have brought the Blues to Tokyo if it had not been for this cursed camera.
Guillaume Gille's men can therefore only count on themselves.
And on the few certainties brought back from Cairo, as the coach analyzed: “I found that we stabilized a system and a defense-goalkeeper relationship in 0-6 which served as a launching pad.
In the game, we found plenty of varieties depending on the attack configurations.
I also remember the state of mind released by the group, the commitment of the players which was top.
And that we will need.
This will be more than necessary to meet the requirement of three matches in three days. ”
Without forgetting the negative points: "When we lost the thread, in an unfavorable balance of power in attack, it was more complicated to find the line."
In case of victory this Friday (9:00 p.m.) against Croatia, the way to Tokyo would open wide before challenging Tunisia on Saturday (9:00 p.m.).
On paper, the vice-champions of Africa do not represent the same power of nuisance as ten years ago with the Hmam and other Tej.
Especially since they too have experienced a failed 2021 World Cup (25th place final).
Two victories in two matches could then be enough to validate the ticket for the Japanese capital, avoiding Sunday (9:00 p.m.) a last knife duel against
a Portuguese formation bruised by the disappearance less than two weeks ago of its goalkeeper Alfredo Quintana
, victim of cardiac arrest.
Lusitanians who, of course, had bowed heavily to the Blues during the last World Cup (32-23), but who had won a year before during the Euro (25-28).
In other words, distrust, more than ever, for a France team which would plunge into an abyss of doubts in the event of non-qualification for Tokyo.
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Michaël Guigou and the Tokyo Games: "It's going to be war to qualify"