From our special correspondent in Tokyo
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Reward themselves with a quarter-final well within their reach.
By having finished first in a group yet relieved, the France team has granted itself a royal road to the final.
Provided, of course, not to see it too quickly, too early.
A potential excess of confidence that the men of Guillaume Gille did not commit on Tuesday against Bahrain, unceremoniously dismissed after a one-sided match.
Direction the semi-final, for the fourth time in a row at the Games, where the winner of the duel between Germany and Egypt awaits him.
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To avoid any bad surprises, the start of the match turned out to be an essential step. Faced with an opponent's back base without large template, but very mobile, the Blues had a little trouble taking their bearings and finding the right distance. But on the other hand, in attack, Dika Mem and his little comrades recited their scales with a very fluid and pleasant game. Thus, after ten minutes of play, apart from a 7-meter throw from Michaël Guigou on the crossbar, France had left nothing in the way and already took a small safety margin (8-5). Who fainted in part with the suspension for two minutes of Nedim Remili and some misfires (11-10). Without further consequence, the Blues quickly resumed their domination, with in particular the good entry of Kentin Mahé (9 goals in total). And as a bonus,a magnificent kung fu between Mem and Remili which allowed the French to join the locker room with more than one foot in the last four (21-14).
Read also: The medal table
With more than 80% of shooting success, the French had kindly flew over the debates during the first act. For Bahrain, the problem was clear: with a game based mainly on the liveliness of their rear, how long, physically, could they hold on to run everywhere with big sideways races like the ones they had just chained for a period? As soon as the restart, the Persian Gulf team was trying in any case to reduce the gap to believe in the feat. But their "comeback" was extinguished very quickly, after a brief return to 5 lengths (24-19, 37th). Returning to an excellent level, Nikola Karabatic took advantage of his important playing time to shine while Guillaume Gille, him, began his turn-over to preserve both.Logic with an addition reaching ten units (30, 20, 43rd). Before taking a particularly severe proportion for the players of Bahrain at the final whistle (42-28).
