The French team, victorious over Croatia (30-26) at the opening of the Olympic qualifying tournament this Friday in Montpellier, has taken an important first step towards Tokyo.
The hardest also probably.
We will know from this Saturday if it is decisive at the end of the second match against Tunisia (9 p.m.).
In their four-way tournament, the Blues must finish in the top two to fly to Japan.
In theory, it is enough to win two matches to take the plane and honor the Olympic appointment.
If the French beat Tunisia, the Grail will be at the end.
The second ticket will be played between Croats and Portuguese.
If the Lusitanians, already victorious over Tunisia (34-27) in turn win ahead of the Croats, they will also go to the Games for the first time in their history.
And the last France - Portugal match on Sunday (9 p.m.) would only be used to determine the first place in the group, which is of no importance.
The first victory, the most complicated to obtain against the Croatian vice-champions of Europe, came after a very difficult game.
The French have not always mastered it, far from it.
They put themselves in danger.
They even had a few sweats against a rough and tough checkered jersey selection as to be expected.
At the break, they had three goals to catch up (12-15).
They made up for this delay, little by little with a defense erected in a wall and an attack found to open a door with a view of Mount Fuji.
