By ensuring Friday a success with a gap of ten goals against the reigning Angolan African champions (30-20), the players of Olivier Krumbholz have almost validated their place for the main round - the first three of each group are qualified -. "
And that's a good thing
", underlines the coach, because it allows to definitively remove the remains of the "
specter of Kumamoto
", in reference to the elimination from the 1st round of the Blue at the 2019 World Cup in Japan. But since December 2019, the French have moved on, with two international finals: silver at Euro 2020 and gold at the Tokyo Games.
The Olympic champions, in search of a third world coronation after 2003 and 2017, will have to adjust the sights when shooting from a distance on the back base.
"
We are very perfectible and we will have to progress quickly, since it settled down well in the pool, with two teams that started up and two down,
" said Olivier Krumbholz.
Faced with a Montenegro team diminished by the injury of Djurdjina Jaukovic, Slovenia made a strong impression, led by its three world-class full-backs with Ana Gros, Elizabeth Omoregie and Tjasa Stanko.
And goalkeeper Amra Pandzic repelled the Montenegrin offensives with 14 saves (54%).
The Ana Gros Threat
"
The rear base is already substantial, if in addition we make the goalkeeper shine, as was the case in 2017, it starts to do a lot
", the coach is wary who remembers the entry setback against Slovenia ( 24-23) during the 2017 World Cup, a competition that the French women had finally won.
With six goals on the clock in less than 30 minutes of play, Ana Gros has once again made use of her left arm, top scorer against Montenegro.
From there to reduce Slovenia to the former player of Metz and Brest?
"
It's too reductive, but it's one of the keys to winning this match,
" said Estelle Nze Minko.
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A year ago at Euro 2020, the French had perfectly muzzled the left-hander of CSKA Moscow (4/11) and had imposed 10 goals (27-17) in the first round.
"
We have assets, it will go through a big defense and make doubt Stanko, Omoregie, and Gros
", underlines Krumbholz.
Without wishing to evoke a plan against Ana Gros, he admits: “
It is obvious that in the defense game, putting Ana Gros in difficulty is part of the balance of power.
"While the Bleues are treating a few ailments (crutch for Béatrice Edwige in particular), a success would allow us to tackle the main round with at least two points on the clock.
