Solberg turned into a wall
Carried away like her partners by the blue wave in the first period (one stop), Silje Solberg came back transfigured after the break. The Norwegian goalkeeper, considered one of the very best in the world, then lived up to her status by disgusting the Blue by finishing with 50% saves (12/24). Whether at close range in front of wingers Chloé Valentini or Lucie Granier, or on a heavy strike from Grace Zaadi, the Norwegian destroyed the hopes of an unprecedented double for the France team, by getting into the heads of her opponents. Like a symbol, Allison Pineau, yet an expert in the field, missed the frame on a 7-meter throw in the second half (57th), after having all converted to first (4/4) ...
LiveHandball: No historic double for Blue against Norway
Henny Reidstad sounded the revolt
His goal on the gong in the first half finally announced the future Norwegian wave.
While the European champions were overtaken in the first half hour, the versatile center-half brought his own to -4 before energizing his troops after returning from the locker room.
Like her two goals in quick succession, where she took care of everything (32nd, 33rd), Reistad pierced the defensive lock tricolor yet so well prowled so far.
Another double in one minute (36th, 37th) allowed Norway to come back in front for good.
She finished top scorer of the game with six goals.
To read also "The France team will come back stronger": the Blue disappointed but not defeated
Henny Reistad was the game's top scorer with six units. PAU BARRENA / AFP
A promising young tricolor generation
These three Spanish weeks will perhaps remain a founding act of the future generation of tricolor women's hand. Not necessarily favorites despite their status as Olympic champions, the Blue have honored this status with a rejuvenated team. And the new generation, supervised by the new captain Coralie Lassource and carried by the pivot Pauletta Foppa or the Méline Nocandy and Alicia Toublanc, should allow France to remain at the top level, even if the lack of experience may have played a role in his disadvantage this Sunday. "
It's a good lesson for young players, they will come back stronger
", promised Olivier Krumbholz at the microphone of
beinSport.
"
Of course we will come back
", Engaged the experienced Allison Pineau, eyes riveted on the next deadlines, including Paris 2024 ...
LiveHandball: No historic double for Blue against Norway
FLOPS
Bipolar Blue
"
There were two periods
", simply summarizes Olivier Krumbholz
.
An implacable observation in view of the slap inflicted in the second half (6-17). The Bleues were however perfectly back in their match, euphoric during a half (16-12) where they dreamed of this double JO-World Cup. The end of the first period, with two goals conceded in quick succession, will leave some regrets in view of the dynamic regained by the future world champions. "I did not have the impression that the girls were out of the match, we start half-time by conceding goals and then the dynamics and the quality of the games were on their side," Krumbholz noted. But there was never a revolt for the Blue, too often defeated by Solberg (see above). At stake,a nightmarish second period with six small goals and nearly ten endless minutes without scoring… unforgivable at this level of the competition.
The blue goalkeepers overtaken after the break
This match with two faces is transcribed in all the compartments of the game, and in particular for the goalkeepers. While Solberg returned transfigured after the rest, the French doors Laura Glauser and Cléopâtre Darleux, abandoned by their defense, suffered with helplessness the Scandinavian waves in the second half. The first mentioned, very visible in the first period (5/12), sank after returning from the locker room (6/27 in the end). Her replacement, thrown into the storm, found herself powerless on the first two strikes she suffered before getting up as best she could, notably by stopping ... with the head, before parrying as she could the opposing attempts (5 / 12).
Norway, a real bête noire
With hindsight, the Blues can be happy to have avoided crossing Norway in Tokyo.
Eliminated by Russia, finalist against France, the Scandinavians took a resounding revenge on the Blue, who had deprived them of the world title in 2017. And since then, the Norwegians have never lost against the band to Olivier Krumbholz, with the culmination of the two finals won one year apart (Euro 2020 then World 2021).
Regularly considered as the best nation in women's handball, Norway is regaining its world crown, abandoned since 2015 and will still be expected at the next Euro but also and above all at the 2023 World Cup… at home.