Euro 2024 handball: he joins his pregnant partner…a player from the French team leaves the group and will not play the final

Un heureux évènement pour Melvyn Richardson. dpa – Federico Gambarini

Right back Melvyn Richardson left the French handball team on Saturday on the eve of the final against Denmark to reunite with his pregnant partner, the French Handball Federation announced.

"Melvyn left Cologne at dawn to join his partner who will very soon give birth to their first child", indicates the FFHB in a press release. The son of Jackson Richardson had played less than five minutes in the semi-final against Sweden the day before, snatched in overtime (34-30).

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"It takes away a rotation at the back position, commented coach Guillaume Gille on Saturday. We are thinking about how to overcome this. There are several options.".

He did not rule out calling on a player from the extended list: "I can do it, yes"< /em>, let "Gino" Gille. Valentin Porte having twisted his ankle against the Swedes, left-handers in full possession of their means are no longer so numerous.