Handball World Cup: the Blue go to the quarters after a suspenseful match against Serbia

The big test is over and qualification in hand.

The France team won in pain on Saturday against Serbia (22-19), during the main round of the handball world championships, in Granollers (Spain).

Thanks to this success, the French Olympic champions, still undefeated at this stage of the competition, regain first place in their group and are sure to play in the quarter-finals of this World Cup.

"We missed a lot of shots, it took lucidity and a talented Darleux (Editor's note: Cleopatra, the goalkeeper)", analyzed Olivier Krumbholz, the coach of the French.

There is a bit of tension, a lot of expectation and a status to be maintained, ”he explained after having suffered the assaults of a Serbian team yet within the reach of the France team.

The meeting had started perfectly for the Blue, who quickly took control of the game, bringing the score to 9-6.

Then, the air gap… Nothing for long minutes and the perfect opportunity for the Serbs to come back to score at the cost of a tight and efficient defense allowing them to come back in front by inflicting a terrible 6 goals to 0 before the half-time (12-9).

🌪 First contrasted period for the Olympic champions who are led by their Serbian opponents.

The Blue have 30 'to reverse the trend.

🇷🇸 12-09 🇫🇷 #BleuetFier #Sheloveshandball # Spain2021 #SERFRA pic.twitter.com/i9K7qJioyg

- French Handball Teams (@FRAHandball) December 11, 2021

Upon returning from the locker room, certainly after a heated talk by Olivier Krumbholz, the face of French women has changed.

Conquerors, the teammates of Coralie Lassource immediately glued to the mark, before regaining the advantage and causing a time out posed by the coach of Serbia.

Decisive Darleux

There followed a suspenseful crossover, between parades of the two guards and failed French counter-attacks.

Risovic enjoyed a one-on-one against the Habs in lack of success in the player-goalkeeper duels.

But thanks to Méline Nocandy, yet in difficulty during this match, the Blue entered the money-time with a small goal (19-18).

In an end of the match looking like the round of 16, Méline Nocandy, thanks to two goals, and Cléopâtre Darleux, on an exceptional final parade, closed the lid.

The Blue have still not conceded more than 20 goals in a match during this World Cup.

Next stop: the Russians, runners-up to the Bleues in Tokyo, on Monday for first place in the group.