Special envoy to Tokyo
To discover
The Olympic medal table
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A first good thing done. By dominating Argentina on Saturday (33-27), then Brazil on Monday (34-29), the French handball team is exactly where it expected to be. That is to say with two successes in two matches, and a wide open path to the quarter-finals before measuring against his European rivals - in order Germany (Wednesday), Spain (Friday) and Norway (Sunday). But beyond the accounting aspect stricto senso, the Blues have put the way. Without evolving to an extraordinary level, they were serious, diligent, efficient and, last point, they never trembled. For a team still in the process of rebuilding, such a record is good, especially in terms of confidence.Especially since the Brazilians had worried Norway at the opening before giving in in the second half (24-27). Of hope, on the other hand, the South Americans hardly nourished it in the face of the domineering French.
As against the Argentines, the Blues did not procrastinate despite the very early hour (9am in Tokyo) of the meeting.
The hexagonal alarm clock had not sounded late and after ten minutes of play, Guillaume Gille's men, well led by their captain Michaël Guigou, were already leading by three lengths (6-3).
A gap that even continued to grow under the leadership of Dika Mem (9-4, 14th), before witnessing a Brazilian reaction, and a little weak French time.
The debates were thus rebalanced until the break, reached with a score of 16-13 in favor of the Blues.
Nothing to worry about, then.
Especially since the recovery, France resumed its march forward ...
Everyone scores in the Blues
Thanks to an excellent work of the pivots Ludovic Fabregas (3 goals) and Nicolas Tournat (4 goals), France regained its ease on the scoreboard (20-15, 36th). Above all, Brazil, aware of running into too strong an opponent, slowly but surely began to let go, physically and mentally. A 4-0 inflicted in three minutes then put an end to all suspense fifteen minutes from the end (26-18). French coach Guillaume Gille could run his troops and manage playing time for the future. This allowed all the field players to get there from their small goal, with a more than satisfactory collective shooting success (76%). In the end, the Blues won by five lengths (34-29), with the feeling of a job well done.
