That's it, it's done: the France team is in the semi-final of the Euro.
There are traditions that are good to respect.
Since 2004 and Nikola Karabatic's first Euro, this is the 7th time that France has been in the last four of a European Championship.
The first objective upon arriving in Germany is accomplished.
But the hardest part is yet to come.
We now also know three of the four qualifiers from the last four: Denmark and Sweden qualified in the other group and France.
The last ticket will be played between Germany and Hungary.
“We played well and got into gear.
We let the Austrians settle in but we found cleaner solutions.
This group is starting to have experience together and it is the collective strength that makes the difference and we must keep it until the end if we want to go all the way.
It's important to keep the dynamic and not settle into comfort,” says Ludovic Fabregas, elected man of the match at the microphone of BeIN Sport.
The game was not easy.
The fault lies with the valiant Austrians and the lack of concentration of the French.
It is true that Austria, the surprise team of this tournament, could also take a big step towards the semi-finals in the event of victory.
It is for this reason that the German public in Cologne supported, for once, the Blues.
Germany needed Austria to lose to still have any hope of qualifying.
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🇫🇷🇦🇹 The Marseillaise before the clash against Austria!#HandAction #FRAAUT pic.twitter.com/pX9oz0WZH8
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 22, 2024
With the sole desire to achieve the greatest feat in their history, the Austrians initially tickled the French for a large part of the first half (9-9, 16th).
The latter regained control before losing it again due to too many inaccuracies.
After leading by 3 goals 3 minutes before the break (15-12), they found a way to let the Austrians lead at the break (15-16).
Playing at scaring yourself is never a good idea.
The French have really liked this little game since the start of the tournament.
When they returned from the locker room, they took a 3-goal lead (22-19, 42nd) and then the Austrians came back again (22-22, 45th), then 26-25 (50th).
Nikola Karabatic, the boss puts an end to the suspense
Remaining under threat, the Blues took too long before putting the lid on this game.
So much the better for the suspense, too bad for the nerves.
The boss himself came to put the lid on: Nikola Karabatic, author of the goal which gave the French four in advance (32-28, 58th).
Afterwards, Samir Bellahcene closed the box behind and the Blues won (33-28).
“The main objective was to qualify against a great Austrian team who we now know why they are there,” reacts coach Guillaume Gille on BeIN Sport.
In the second half, we played cleaner.
Now the goal is to continue winning matches.
Afterwards, we prepare for an exciting final weekend.
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Now, there is still one group match to play in this format of a tournament which skips the quarter-finals box.
On Wednesday (6 p.m.), the Blues will still have to face Hungary.
This last match before those, finally, direct elimination, will not be without stakes.
There is the first group place at stake which is not anecdotal.
Finishing at the top of the group will allow the Blues to face the second of the other group in the semi-final.
This means avoiding, undoubtedly, the Danish three-time world champions who are better to challenge in the final.
If France wins this last match against the Hungarians, they will face Sweden on Friday.
It will be a remake of the semi-final of the Euro in 2022 and that of the semi-final of the World Cup in 2023. The Swedes won two years ago.
In Stockholm last year, France took its revenge.
We're already waiting for the beauty.