A new competition starts this Wednesday in Egypt for the France team.
After a little recreation on Tuesday around the pyramids of Giza, in a reserved and ultra-secure setting, Guillaume Gille's Blues attack the main round with Algeria (6 p.m.).
The opportunity to take points before facing Iceland (Friday) and Portugal (Sunday), two tougher opponents for the quarter-finals.
No time to waste
With three victories in the preliminary round, the French team leaves with a capital of four points, like the Portuguese.
In a group of six completed by Norway and Switzerland (which France has already played), and from which only the first two will join the 1/4, Michaël Guigou and his teammates therefore have every interest in filling up against in principle the weakest team.
It would be good for the standings, and also for the confidence, in a competition which will last until the end of the month… if all goes well.
Algeria, the unknown
After two Worlds without participation, the “Desert Warriors” are back.
Dominated in the pool by Portugal (26-19), crushed by the Icelandic Vikings (39-24), they owe their qualification to success on the wire against Morocco (24-23).
France, which has not met since the 2015 World Cup (32-26 victory), is wary: “This team can cause us problems,” says the French coach.
It offers a game that we are not used to, with a different style of defense.
There is no doubt that the staff has studied Algeria's game well ...
Life without Pardin
This is the bad news of the end of the previous round.
Wesley Pardin, who shone in his cages against Norway, will not see the end of the World Cup.
Injured in the knee (we fear a rupture of the ligaments) against Switzerland, the Aixois returned to France, and will be replaced by Rémi Desbonnet, the Nîmois goalkeeper, who flew Tuesday evening from Paris.
Vincent Gérard (PSG), author of a good match against Austria, just as efficient against the Swiss, is the indisputable number 1 at the post.
Yann Genty, his club mate, completes the trio.
