Women's handball: 3 things to know before France - Spain at the Euro

It's go again!

After the qualifying phase, perfectly negotiated, the France team is launching an assault on the main round of the European Championship this Thursday (8:30 p.m.) in Denmark, with a first match against Spain.

The title holders will then have two more meetings until Tuesday in order to qualify for the semi-final of the competition.

Finish in the first 2 places and see further

If they want to have the opportunity to defend their title acquired at home two years ago, the Blue must imperatively finish in the first two places in group 1.

Impeccable in the first round, they start with the maximum number of points (4), a very important capital for the future.

The French should not miss their opening against Spain, before playing Friday (6.15 p.m.) Russia, the only other team in the group to have refueled and main opponent.

If they win these two matches, a draw could be enough for them in the final meeting against Sweden on Tuesday (6.15 p.m.).

Two matches to be played in less than 24 hours

The victory (23-20) last Tuesday against Denmark, the host country, allowed the French to close the first round with a smile But discontent quickly gained the tricolor ranks.

Finishing at the top of their group, Olivier Krumbholz and his players, who were to start the main round against Russia on Friday, were disillusioned just after discovering that the schedule that awaited them had been changed, at the request of the host country, by the EHF (European Handball Federation).

The France team is therefore forced to play two games in less than 24 hours (like the Russians) when it had prepared to have two days of beating between each meeting.

Knowing that a request for postponement was rejected by the European body.

"It's a shame, a scandal," protested the French coach in the columns of L'Equipe.

Full of confidence despite everything

If they have to do with a messed up schedule, the Blue have the satisfaction of a job well done.

On diesel mode (24-23) in the first match against Montenegro, they then played against Slovenia (27-17), then showed authority against Denmark (23-20).

"We are super-motivated and our pace of play is increasing," said Estelle Nze Minko, the center half.

We show a very different face than during the last World

.

However, be careful not to neglect the Spanish.

Third in the preliminary round, the latter managed to qualify on the wire against the Czechs at the cost of immense willpower.