Tokyo Olympics: "A day that will remain engraved", the Bleues du hand recount the meeting that changed everything

Cries of joy echo in the desert of Yoyogi Stadium.

Embraces, farandole and song ("we do not go home") punctuate the victory of the French handball players against Brazil (29-22).

This unpacking of happiness might seem disproportionate.

However, the Bleues have won more than one game.

They have earned the right to dream ...

The essential is safe.

The Habs avoided a defeat that would have condemned them to pack their bags from the group stage, which had never happened to them at the Olympics.

Led by Allison Pineau and Coralie Lassource, Olivier Krumbholz's players have fulfilled their contract.

Which had nothing of an impossible mission, so much the Blue attacked the meeting looking like the eighth-final with tension and feverishness.

🇫🇷 29 ⚡ 22 🇧🇷

Nice copy made by the Blue against Brazil 🤩

👉 Direction the quarter-finals! #BleuetFier # Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/bFzVRVfkLy

- French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) August 2, 2021

“We had to wait, so obviously we savor, we are too happy, we all gave to have no regrets and we finally found the real game of the France team, relishes captain Coralie Lassource. We had that it was going to be very difficult. For some, it's the last competition with the France team and we didn't want to end like that. We all wanted to qualify… I am very proud of this team. "

The victory and qualification may have been played on Sunday in the Olympic Village.

Where the blue words seem to have driven away the blue evils.

“It was a very productive day,” continues Lassource.

We had a meeting together, a lot of things were said and that's what allowed us to be stronger.

I think she will remain etched in the memories of all the girls who were present.

It's our little secret… ”

"We really got naked"

In any case, the girls seemed to be freed from a great deal of weight. "The object was the hand and us," smiles Océane Sercien-Ugolin. Open up, don't be afraid to give of yourself, whether it's good or bad, without restraint. I think that's what made us strong. We just gave regardless of the emotions that were there. It was important that we talk to each other. There was nothing wrong but we had to allow ourselves to let our emotions out. Our mental trainer started it but there was a need and a desire of all. I'm not saying it's the only thing. But it was a small ingredient that allowed us to win. "

The guardian Cléopâtre Darleux also appreciated this moment of exchange and cohesion. “We really got naked,” explains the Brestoise. Each did not hesitate to indulge and it feels good. “There was a dichotomy between their level and their ambition, summarizes the coach. This collaborative work between them has been in place for years. He was very precious. I felt serenity and it bodes well. I had five quarter-finals and most of the time it ended up one goal in the last five minutes. And there it is necessary to be strong, serene, to avoid the feelings of anguish or of guilt. Otherwise, we cannot break free. "

Les Bleues still have to wait a few hours to know their opponent in the quarterfinals. But it will be heavy ... "I believe in this team, loose Sercien-Ugolin. Whether it's Norway or the Netherlands, if we want to win the best medal, we will have to beat everyone. I say it without pretension. We will leave our skin there. Everything is possible. "