Ten years ago, talking about France - Portugal in handball, we would have laughed.
We would have tried to guess the goal gap and what sauce would be eaten the Lusitanian selection.
In 34 confrontations in history, France has won 30 times.
But that was before, when France dominated the world of the little sticky ball.
At the time of meeting this Sunday (8:20 p.m. live on TMC) for the third and last match of the main round of the World Cup, the prognosis is no longer so easy to establish.
Against Portugal, the match is no longer won in advance.
Portugal took France out of the Euro in 2020
Because since then, France has regressed slightly and above all, Portugal has grown.
As proof, the last opposition between the two selections.
It was a year ago at the Euro and Portugal had taken France out of the competition with a big kick in the behind (25-28).
A few months earlier, in April 2019, the Portuguese had already ridiculed the Blues (33-27) during the qualifiers for this same Euro while before this snub the last victory of the Portuguese against the French handball players dated back to ... 1949.
“There are several parameters that explain these setbacks, analyzes Guillaume Gille, the French coach who was assistant at the time of these two defeats.
Each time, we were bad, we didn't all play together, didn't apply the right tactics well.
We also have, it must be said, a very good generation of Portuguese players.
"
Still undefeated in this World Cup # Egypt2021 ✊🇫🇷
📷 FFHandball / S.PILLAUD # BleuetFier #FRAISL pic.twitter.com/m83ERAo6F6
- France Hand teams (@FRAHandball) January 23, 2021
This is the most amazing.
Never qualified for the Olympic Games, Portuguese handball has never passed the stage of the knockout stages of a World Cup.
The only time was in 2001 during the World Championship which crowned Daniel Costantini's France.
In 2021, Portugal will take part in their first World Cup since… 2003: “There is a great handball tradition here,” said Ivry's left-back left-back Wilson Davyes in December.
As in football, it is mainly reflected with the three big sports clubs, Porto, Benfica and Sporting in Lisbon.
"
Porto are in the same Champions League group as PSG this season and they are far from being ridiculous there.
"The players there have a real technical quality and are very fast," added Thierry Anti, who coached Porto before returning to Aix this season.
While they sometimes lack rigor and discipline at key moments, they work hard to learn.
They also have a tactical culture.
I am not surprised by the emergence of Portuguese handball at the international level.
"
Portugal can join the quarters
In this Egyptian World Cup without tail or head, Portugal is strong.
He took Switzerland out of the tournament and almost sent Norway back to his studies.
The Portuguese are also still in the race for the quarter-finals, a real performance:
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"We are sticking to the results which are what they are against this team," said Luka Karabatic.
Now is the time to set the record straight and this bad series must stop.
More importantly, this game looks like a round of 16 for us.
We must therefore win it and there is no need to look for another source of motivation than this qualification.
"
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The message is clear: still undefeated, the Blues do not have to worry about the color of the jersey opposite this Sunday.
No more than they will have in early March in Montpellier - if the pandemic allows - when it comes to playing the Olympic qualifying tournament (TQO).
Chance will then give them an old acquaintance on the way: Portugal, which never leaves them.
