The hard blow came from where we did not expect it.
If the short defeat conceded against Norway on Sunday in the last group match did not divert the French handball team from its path to the quarter-finals, it did however have some consequences on its workforce.
🤾🇫🇷🇳🇴 First defeat of the French handball team.
The Blues, already qualified for the quarter-finals, lost to Norway (32-29).
Next meeting against Barheïn, Tuesday, in quarters!
▶ Follow the Olympics live: https://t.co/FQNUDtiQca pic.twitter.com/dX326OSfbX
- francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 1, 2021
First in their group, the Blues inherited the surprising Bahrain team for the first chopping match of the fortnight.
But Tuesday, in the early morning (9:30 am in Japan, 2:30 in France), it is without Timothey N'Guessan that they will play their place in the semi-final.
Forced to join the bench after only a few minutes Sunday afternoon against Norway, the Barcelona is forfeited for the rest of the competition.
Descat "can stay in the group"
After additional examinations carried out on return to the Olympic Village, the medical staff were categorical: “Timothey has a grade 2 right calf injury that contraindicates any sporting activity for 14 days.
As the regulations allow, the technical staff of the Blues has therefore acted as a replacement by including Romain Lagarde in the list.
Rhein-Neckar's left-back, who has trained with the team since preparation began on June 23, was present in Tokyo.
Optimism is on the other hand as regards the left winger of Montpellier Hugo Descat who had also felt muscular discomfort during the match.
“Hugo has a minimal lesion of the adductors requiring care and minimal rest, explains Dr. Pierre Sébastien, specifying that Descat can remain in the group.
"
