For the first time since 2008, France is going through an Olympic qualifying tournament (TQO) to hope to go to the Games.
13 years ago, the story ended well at the Beijing Olympics with the conquest of the most beautiful medals.
This year, it's a different story in Montpellier.
On paper, the mission of Guillaume Gille's players is clear.
At the end of a mini-championship against the formidable Croatia (Friday 9 p.m., TMC), the affordable Tunisia and the unpredictable Portugal, the Blues must finish in the first two places to see Tokyo.
Winning two games is therefore imperative, three would be better.
📹 Les Bleus closed the first phase of preparation for #TQO at #MaisonduHandball before heading to Montpellier 🇫🇷
➡ https://t.co/fE9cN22x0L#BleuetFier # VoirTokyo pic.twitter.com/bJPy0IiMxK
- French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) March 10, 2021
If they fail, there will be no catch-up oral and the future will be bleak for French handball.
“Like you, we have the feeling that we are not immune to anything,” sums up the pivot Ludovic Fabregas.
This tournament can just as easily go wonderfully as it can turn into a nightmare.
We are aware of this.
"
"It's worse than a World Cup"
In truth, the challenge of the Blues is difficult: "Adrenaline level, it's worse than a World Cup, says the coach who experienced this tournament, as a player in 2008. In a format disrespectful for the health of the players, we play three fantastic matches in three days to try to be among the twelve nations that will be at the Games.
It's a terrible time.
"
In the middle of an already insane calendar, the aberration forces the four selections to play their Olympic future, therefore their future very short, in 48 hours with an irrevocable sentence at the end.
“It's like a Champions League Final Four with an additional match, analyzes Valentin Porte.
I don't measure the level of stress this TQO involves.
I prefer not to think about it.
"
Zero recovery, no certainty despite an overall successful Egyptian World Cup but not without reproach: France, deprived of supporters, groped ahead in Montpellier.
No one thinks for a moment that this TQO is just a formality.
“Qualifying for the Games is getting harder and harder,” insists Luka Karabatic.
In one year, we have experienced a catastrophic Euro and an encouraging World Cup.
We are capable of anything.
Yes, even the worst.
“But if we try to evacuate it, we have this worst-case scenario in our head, agrees captain Michaël Guigou, who could participate in his fifth Games.
This France team is too irregular in its performance, sometimes in the same match.
Anything can happen to us, we must look this reality in the face without being afraid of it.
"
"The end ?
This is a question that I do not ask myself ”
For the Blues, fourth in the recent World Cup, the challenge begins this Friday, facing Croatia which missed its World Cup but is vice-champion of Europe in title.
"It is a great nation of handball and a complicated start," explains Luka Karabatic.
This match will decide everything.
If they win, another success against more modest Tunisians on Saturday could be enough to see Japan on the horizon.
Otherwise, we will have to play a qualifying final on Sunday against Portugal.
A scenario of fear that the Blues want to avoid.
"We know the doubts that hover above us," continues the brother of the big absentee Nikola Karabatic.
But we in the group have great confidence.
That is what matters.
"
We present to you Croatia, the first opponent of the Blues in their quest for a ticket to Tokyo 🇫🇷
Friday March 12, 9:00 p.m. on @TMCtv #BleuetFier #ViewTokyo pic.twitter.com/15Jng2gO25
- French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) March 8, 2021
If unfortunately this TQO behind closed doors turns out badly, two monuments will say goodbye to the blue jersey on Sunday: Michaël Guigou and Luc Abalo.
" The end?
This is a question that I do not ask myself, dryly returns Abalo, the two-time Olympic champion.
I'm not wondering if it's going to go wrong.
I think about what will come after this TQO.
I am already thinking of the Olympics.
Fortunately, there is also optimism in the ranks.
