There are only two more steps to climb to enjoy a doubled history. Olympic champions last summer in Tokyo, the Blue now dream of adorning themselves with world gold in Granollers, Spain. First obstacle on their way, Denmark this Friday in the semi-finals. A big name in women's handball which has experienced a lean period during the past decade but who aims to regain heights that the France team coached by Olivier Krumbholz has not left since 2016 with seven medals gleaned in eight international competitions. A permanence that some feared to see suddenly stop during this World Championship, in particular because of the international retreats of some of its most prestigious executives, such as Amandine Leynaud, the guardian of the temple, or Siraba Dembélé,the road captain.
But, like their male counterparts, the French have this ability to regenerate and always find young people with undeniable talent and strong mentality. Like Méline Nocandy or Océane Sercien-Ugolin. Above all, France can rely on the excellence of its defense, a true trademark that has been passed down from generation to generation. With only 146 goals conceded in seven matches despite a heightened adversity, the Blue were able to erect against their opponents a real wall, symbolized by their boss, Béatrice Edwige, who reveled in the scenario of a quarter-final that saw the Swedes, however formidable scoring machines, wither minute after minute on the offensive plan (31-26 this Wednesday). As wrung out by such a steamroller. "
I know that this term is often used by Olivier, but it actually bothers me a bit,
”says Edwige. “
It's certain that this year, we are really well established. From the preparation for Coubertin, we felt that our defense was solid, which bodes well for this World Cup. And here, from our first game, we managed to stay on the same type of performance. Our defense is really effective but I think it can still improve on the last four.
"
A margin of progress which is enough to give the Danes a few chills. Especially since the Blue all share this taste for defensive effort, established by a staff and a coach who are very attached to it. “
In training, we work both on defense and attack,” Edwige recalls. We all know very well that we have built all of our greatest successes (one Olympic title, two world titles in 2003 and 2017 and one European in 2018) on it.
"With two strong goalkeepers - Laura Glauser and Cléopâtre Darleux - and very complementary profiles - between balloon pilots like Estelle Nze Minko or Chloé Valentini and girls with a determining physical impact like Edwige or Pauletta Foppa - France has a decisive asset to try first to rally the final.
Then to win on Sunday, either against Norway or against the host country, Spain.
Denmark and its many dangers
However, beware of the Danes, who are undoubtedly the most impressive team so far in this World Cup alongside the Blue, with impressive successes by their scale against Hungary (30-19) or Germany (32-16 ). The Scandinavian formation is based on a defense perhaps less compact than that of the French, but with a formidable tandem of goalkeepers, between the
"Brestoise"
Sandra Toft and her understudy Althea Reinhardt.
Above all, the danger comes from everywhere among these Danes who already have eleven players with 13 goals or more in the competition, with 68% of success in shooting overall.
Now, after turning off the Swedes, it's not the kind of challenge that might scare these unsinkable French women.
On the contrary, it is typically a challenge that could well encourage them to further increase their defensive level.
History to crown an exceptional year for these Bleues with the profile of Experts.
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