On the roof of Olympus, last August, the Blues have thought to be enthroned on that of the world.
Superior to the Swedes in the quarterfinals (31-26) then to the Danes in the semi-finals (23-22), the French ended their Scandinavian triplet with a terrible defeat by its scenario, Sunday in the World Cup final, against Norway (22-29) .
However, in a sports hall of Granollers (Spain) heated to white to follow the dream poster between the two best teams of current handball, everything had started like a dream for the players of Olivier Krumbholz.
Leaving in the first period no chance to helpless Norwegians, although reigning European champions and bronze medalists in Tokyo, let us remember.
> Relive the World Cup final minute by minute
Norwegian metamorphosis
Always there at the rendezvous despite his 32 years, the indestructible Alisson Pineau had been the trigger in the first act, at 3/3 on jets of 7 m.
Full of success and destructive when it came to hurting, the Blue had widened a first significant gap after twenty-five dazzling first minutes (12-7), evidenced by this cannon shot from Estelle Nze Minko (22nd) .
Unrecognizable, because disturbed by so much blue envy, the Nordiques returned to the locker room with a - 4 already very well paid (16-12).
And then ... And then patatras.
🇫🇷 FRANCE 10 - 7 NORWAY 🇳🇴
What an action by Estelle Nze Minko !!
This is the image of this first half !!!
To follow live on @ MYTF1: https://t.co/0kxE7Lcpmg#FRANOR # Spain2021 # Spain2021 #BleuetFier #SheLovesHandball pic.twitter.com/YMCwQ37eM4
- TF1 (@ TF1) December 19, 2021
While all the players of the France team had responded present, from a bleeding offensive sector to an applied defense, in front of a Laura Glauser sometimes impassable, the Blue inexplicably fell apart.
They who had known only victory since the start of a very high level tournament, collapsed after the expected Scandinavian awakening.
The 4-0 conceded at the start hurt a lot, and the French only chased after the score then.
Too late for Nze Minko's teammates, who even suffered an unthinkable -8 time two minutes from time (21-29).
🇫🇷 FRANCE 19 - 21 NORWAY 🇳🇴
What a recovery from the Norwegians who inflict a 9-3 on our French women in the second period ...
To follow live on @ MYTF1: https://t.co/0kxE7Lcpmg#FRANOR # Spain2021 # Spain2021 #BleuetFier #SheLovesHandball pic.twitter.com/lLy3QDRPZW
- TF1 (@ TF1) December 19, 2021
After the Euro (lost) and the title at the Tokyo Games, the French team let this final slip away, its third in a row in a year.
Sacred in 2003 and 2017, the Habs can blame themselves against Nora Mörk's Norway, who gleans their fourth world crown after 1999, 2011 and 2015.