And four!
In the continuity of their previous results, the players of the France team are getting used to leaving nothing to their respective adversaries.
After Poland, Saudi Arabia and Slovenia in the preliminary phase, it is Montenegro's turn to suffer the law of Olympic champions (35-24), at the end of a meeting clearly dominated by the workforce of Guillaume Gille, still without Dika Mem but where Vincent Gérard and Melvyn Richardson distinguished themselves.
The Blues, who now play all their matches in this round in Krakow, are still as close to playing a new quarter-final in a major competition, but nothing is certain yet.
After Iran on Friday, which will only be a formality, the shock against Spain on Sunday already promises.
Because of their status as favourites, nothing more was required than a victory on their part against Montenegro Of all the countries that made up the former Yugoslavia, this small state wedged between Bosnia, Serbia and Albania n he is not the most capped in the history of handball.
If Spain suffered to win (30-25), the Montenegrins also had all the trouble to get rid of Iran (34-31) and the very modest Chile (35-33).
Only two meetings have taken place in the past between France and its opponent of the day, during the 2013 World Cup (victory of the Blues 32-20) and at the Euro, last year (36-27).
Guillaume Gille was able to run
It is well known: without good defense, no result.
The first Frenchman to stand out is Vincent Gérard.
Often criticized, the former PSG goalkeeper, who will join the German club Kiel next year, is always there in the big moments.
In a quarter of an hour, he stops almost all Montenegrin attempts, including two 7-meter throws.
Consequence: France takes a four-goal lead (9-5, 18th) and manages to keep it despite a lot of clumsiness in attack.
At the break, the case is very well underway (16-13) for Nikola Karabatic and his teammates, including an excellent Melvyn Richardson (4 goals).
What happens next doesn't change anything.
Guillaume Gille decides to rotate his workforce, the opportunity for Dylan Nahi and Elohim Prandi to raise the score (27-18, 47th).
The Gérard storm is still just as devastating in its cages, Richardson goes on penalties and continues its festival (10 achievements in total), and Nicolas Tournat brings his stone to the very solid building erected by Guillaume Gille and his staff.
At the very end of the game, Rémi Desbonnet, who came into play in the last quarter of an hour in place of Vincent Gérard, even went there with his small goal in the empty cage of Montenegro.
“We have a first half where we dominate the debates, but with a little lightness in the finish which prevents us from flying to the score, tells Guillaume Gille at the microphone of BeIN sport at the end of the encounter.
There was a bit of nervousness to be in a tight game when all the lights were green.
We were able to do a good squad review, it's a great satisfaction in this main round.
“For Vincent Gérard, “it's a satisfaction to finish with such a gap, even if we could have done better in the first half.
In terms of content, there are quite a few errors in the first act.
It's satisfying to have restarted strong.
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If France is not yet mathematically in the quarters, we do not see how it could be otherwise.
In a group where only the first two will see the rest of the competition, it currently has the same number of points as Slovenia (only the two best results of the preliminary phase are taken into account, and the two teams have beaten the 'Saudi Arabia).
Except that Spain, the third thief, will stand in the way of the Slovenians this Friday afternoon (3:30 p.m.) and should logically win, while the Blues will have no difficulty in subduing Iran ( 18 hours).
Everything will therefore be decided against the Iberians on Sunday (8:30 p.m.), especially to define who will be the opponent of the quarter-finals the following Wednesday.
The real lesson to be learned from this first match is above all that France does not stop progressing, as usual.
Enough to attack the last week with envy.
