A few hours before the final, this Sunday, December 19, against Norway and a victory that would allow the Blue to achieve, the same year, the very rare Olympic title-world title double, Olivier Krumbholz is working out his weapons.
This Sunday evening, whatever the result, a 13th medal will be added to his record, making him the most medal-winning French coach.
And here he is having fun with these defense systems that he reveals, like secret boots.
"I have a little idea in store, we will need a little time, but I am working on a third defensive device," smiles the coach.
It was he who on Friday, while the Habs stumbled against the Danes, brilliantly attempted a 1-5 defense (with an advanced player), allowing the meeting to change.
“This defense worked wonders,” sums up the coach.
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And Krumbholz, 63 years old and in office since 1998 with just a break from 2013 to 2016, continued: “Our game is starting to be decoded, but this defense at 5 is undecoded!
It's good to have two devices already, some teams only have one.
We are always apprehensive about launching this defense, because it opens up spaces and it forces us to take risks.
"
"We had it all wrong"
Against Denmark, the coach believes that his team did not take enough at the start.
“We were less well physically, we made mistakes defensively and we found ourselves in the rough.
In attack, we lacked continuity, fluidity, our game was a little too readable.
We hoped for faults from the opponent, we had it all wrong.
"
Faced with the formidable Norwegians, straying will be prohibited.
"We know this team very well, it will be a special final but I am mainly focused on our ability to play better than against Denmark," said Olivier Krumbholz.
With fatigue, if we do not find the quality of the game, it will be difficult.
But maybe the strength can come from elsewhere, from the bench, from girls who have not yet performed.
This is the last chance to step out the window, especially since Norway is a team that you only beat when you produce handball of exceptional quality.
"
They are ready to write history
Olivier Krumbholz warns: "If we play like against Denmark on Friday, we will lose!"
But we can also improve our quality of play. What the girls achieved at the end of the match on Friday is extraordinary.
To be led by 4 goals, to come back and win is something very strong.
"
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With this 3rd world title at their fingertips, the girls are getting ready to make history.
"There is an exceptional continuity, new in French women's handball, we are clearly in a good pass," said the coach.
Some players had yet experienced a stroke of blues, the day after their Olympic gold medal.
“We saw this through individual interviews,” says Krumbholz.
It's paradoxical to come home with a gold medal and to have, behind, a real spleen.
There was a lot of fatigue and I didn't know what to expect.
But there is still that same determination to go find something.
Today, I am convinced that they can do it, that they have the competence.
It is no longer a miracle to be in the last four.
"
The first minutes will be decisive
The kick-off will be given at 5.30 p.m., the first minutes will be decisive.
"If we find solutions in attack, we will have confidence, the Norwegians will have to make a throw-in, rather than counter-attacks or rising ball, projected Olivier Krumbholz.
On the other hand, in terms of morale we will be tired and if we start playing badly again, I'm afraid it will impact us in all areas of the game. "
In case of victory, the players will receive a bonus of 40,000 euros from the French federation.
This will be 25,000 euros in the event of a silver medal.
On the way to a third star?
Since their first exploit, the silver of the 1999 World Cup, the Bleues have become regulars on the podiums in major competitions.
Whatever the result of the final, they will win a thirteenth international medal on Sunday.
Olympic Games
: gold, 2021;
money, 2016.
World Championship
: gold, 2003 and 2017;
silver, 1999, 2009 and 2011.
European Championship
: gold, 2018;
money, 2020;
bronze, 2002, 2006 and 2016.
