Euro 2024 handball: France begins its main round with a narrow victory against Croatia, Nikola Karabatic makes history

Nikola Karabatic has broken a new record in the history of handball. dpa – Tom Weller

The French handball team won the first match of the main round of Euro 2024 with a narrow victory against Croatia (34-32), Thursday January 18 in Cologne, allowing them to take at the head of their group while Nikola Karabatic once again made his mark in handball history.

France – Croatia: 34-32

Lanxess Arena (Cologne).
Half time: 18-18.
Referees: L. Jorum and H. Kleven (NOR).
Spectators: 19,750.
FRANCE: Bellahcene (24% saves, 6 saves on 25 shots including 1/2 on penalties), Desbonnet (14%, 2/14 dt 0/1 pen.). Lenne (3/4), Remili (3/5), Prandi (1/3), Richardson (0/2), Mem (6/11), Tournat (4/5), N. Karabatic 5/7), Mahé (2/2 including 1/1 on penalties), (cap.) L. Karabatic (1/2), Fabregas (3/3), Descat (3/5 dt 0/1 pen.), Porte (1/1), Nahi (2/3), Konan (0/1).
Two minutes at: Fabregas (7th, 36th, 42nd), L. Karabatic (7th), Mem (51st).
Red card to: Fabregas (42nd).
CROATIA: Kuzmanovic (42% saves 13 saves on 31 shots including 1/2 on penalties), Mandic (14%, 2/14). Mihic, Sostaric (3 goals from 4 shots including 1/2 penalties), Karacic (4/7), Maras (4/6), Nacinovic (1/1), Kusan (3/4), Mamic, Cindric (2 /3), Lucin (0/5), Sipic, Glavas (1/1), Srna (6/7), Klarica (4/6), Jelinic (4/4).
Two minutes at: Lucin (14th), Nacinovic (30th, 51st), Srna (43rd), Glavas (58th).

Nikola Karabatic's band is now in an ideal position to finish in one of the first two places in their group and qualify for the semi-finals of the European Championship, competition that she has not won for ten years.

The Blues tamed Croatia after a match that hung on until the final minute. All this despite three temporary exclusions and a permanent one for his pivot Ludovic Fabregas, despite blue goalkeepers having been in difficulty for a long time and despite a Croatian goalkeeper, Dominik Kuzmanovic, almost impassable (13 saves, 41%).

Karabatic, this guide

But has time taken a toll on Nikola Karabatic ? As against Germany on Tuesday (33-30 victory), the almost 40-year-old handball legend – in April – set the tone with his five goals and his aggression without the ball.

Like his interception when the Croats held a ball to go in front by three lengths (5-7, 11th) or his counter, in a key moment (24-22) , which he celebrated, on the ground, with his fists clenched, screaming.

With 289 goals scored in the European Championship since the start of his career, "Kara" surpasses the Icelandic Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson who until then held the record for goals in the history of the Euro (288). Even if he is closely followed by his ex-PSG teammate, the Dane Mikkel Hansen (276).

French goalkeepers struggling

Other satisfaction, Yannis Lenne, the right winger hampered by lower back pain then declined, shone (3 goals/4 shots) after a sluggish first meeting against Germany ( 0/3). He also served his ex-partner from Montpellier on the other wing, Hugo Descat, for a magnificent kung-fu (17-14, 24th).

On the other hand, as against Germany, the goalkeepers are struggling. The entry in the 20th minute of Samir Bellahcene in place of Rémi Desbonnet, in difficulty (2 saves on 13 shots, 15%) was slow to have its effects (0/6). Until returning from the locker room when the ex-Dunkerquois stopped a first attempt before finishing better (6/25, 24%).

The success of the Croatian shooters against the French goalkeepers recalled their coup against the Spaniards when one and only time a La Roja goalkeeper was able to stop them. Guillaume Gille's men must play their next match against Iceland on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) to further extend their lead over the competition.