"It's magic, what a thrill!" : the happiness of the Blues qualified for the final of the World Handball

The France team is in the final of the World Championship.

Winners of Sweden at home (31-26), the Blues will challenge Denmark on Sunday in Stockholm.

Nikola Karabatic who did not play due to foot pain and the French will try to seek a seventh world title against the double world champions in title.

In front of the Swedes, the Blues were masterful, solid, valiant, efficient.

“We played our best match since the start of the competition, rejoices coach Guillaume Gille at the microphone of BeINSport.

I'm proud of the boys and what they put into this game.

The Nordic teams in general do not succeed us but there, it was a very successful match and it was necessary to go to the final.

»

🤾 #HandAction

🤩 FRANCE IS GOING STRAIGHT!

pic.twitter.com/7UEJl9xIcm

— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 27, 2023

For an hour the French smothered the Swedes.

It's a hell of a performance when you know that the game took place in a stadium of 20,000 people all committed to the cause of theirs.

“Our greatest pride and to have remained united, welded, welcomes Nedim Remili always on BeINsport.

We were solid from start to finish, everyone held on tactically.

Beating Sweden in front of 20,000 people is huge!

We are strong with our defense, our goalkeepers and we have the ability to score goals everywhere.

Finding Denmark proves longevity in performance.

We know their strength, their way of playing.

But tonight, let's enjoy before thinking about it »

“In spin mode in a washing machine”

Kiff is also the first word that comes from the mouth of goalkeeper Vincent Gérard: "It's a kiff, yeah! He smiles.

Playing at home added pressure to the Swedes.

It was twice in a row that they beat us in the semi-finals but we said to ourselves that each match has its story.

We took this one by the right end and we leave with a victory that does not suffer from any dispute.

We are tired, in spin mode in the cycle of a washing machine at the end of this tournament.

But even if it means playing to the end, you might as well play to win.

»

Dika Mem shares her emotions: “It's clear that we were very hungry, we knew it could be special to win here, it's done.

We never doubted even if we had weak times.

The team never doubts, that's what makes us strong.

This kind of match is played in defense.

Tonight, we had a big central hinge, a very strong Vincent Gérard.

»

Ludovic Fabregas, the rock, he does not want to drag on this semi-final.

“We had a great match on each side of the field, it's true, he confides.

We had prepared him very well for the video and the Swedes fell into our traps.

They chased after the score throughout the game and that was good.

We are savoring this evening but we know that this moment is very short and that we must already plan for the final”.

Kentin Mahé's message to his father

So it will be against Denmark.

30 years ago in 1993, it was already in Sweden that the French team played its first final in a World Championship.

It's the only one she lost before winning six times.

“Yes I know, laughs Kentin Mahé, my father (Pascal) had played this final.

I'll say hello to him tonight.

»