Euro handball: a diabolical trio in attack led by Remili, Bellahcene in the cages, and Konan new defender… how the Blues won ?

The French defense, embodied by Fabregas and Konan, once again carried the Blues during this Euro. EPA – CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF

A striking attacking trio, a goalkeeper from nowhere and a defense of titans carried the French handball players to a fourth European title on Sunday in Cologne, winner of Denmark in the final after extra time (33-31).

The three musketeers Remili-Mem-Fabregas

"Nedim (Remili) and Dika (Mem) are part of a strong axis within the team. Since the Olympics, they have very often been associated in the attack. It is those who use the most balls, who have the most impact on the game, describes coach Guillaume Gille.

The figures in this Euro confirm his analysis. Barça captain Dika Mem (26 years old) is the fourth best director and the most prolific of the Blues (49 goals). As for playing master Nedim Remili (28 years old), he is – by far – the most decisive passer of the tournament with 53 offerings for his partners.

"If we give them these roles and extend these responsibilities, it also proves their performance and their regularity", congratulates them "Gino" Gille. "Having two left-handers on the back base is something rare in the international concert and an asset that we try to use."< /p>

And Fabregas takes advantage…

Their balls feed abundantly the pivot Ludovic Fabregas (27 years old), superior finisher. "Tchiki", his nickname, displays hawkish precision: sixth top scorer with a conversion rate of his shots of 88% "Ludo" has broadened his palette, he becomes more and more complete in defense as well as in attack, praises the coach.

"He is present on both sides of the field. He is one of the weapons and very strong points of our team."  "Our trio arrived young in the French team, we've been there for a while, recalls Dika Mem. Nedim and Ludo since 2016, me, 2017."

Samir Bellahcene, the unexpected guardian

Deprived of its usual N.1 goalkeeper Vincent Gérard, operated on for pubalgia in September, the French team presented itself for the first time since 2000 at a tournament without the champion Olympic Games in Tokyo or his illustrious predecessor Thierry Omeyer. Upon arrival in Germany, "no hierarchy is established", assures coach Guillaume Gille.

What is confirmed subsequently: Samir Bellahcene, relegated to the stands during the opening match against North Macedonia, finds himself propelled into the starting position for the fifth match, against the # 39;Iceland. The goalkeeper trained at Montpellier Handball continues his trajectory as late as meteoric.

Nine months after his first selection, at the age of 28 on April 26, when he was still wearing the colors of Dunkirk, here he is, N.1 goalkeeper for the Blues. "Going to Kiel gave him a lot of confidence, he made his mark in that team", AFP judge Thierry Omeyer.

From a medical freelance to finalist

"When we hatch late, in quotes, we tend to appreciate these moments more." Because in the meantime Samir Bellahcene has transformed his medical freelance for the prestigious German club into a permanent transfer thanks to saves which made him the goalkeeper with the best save percentage in the Champions League (37%).< /p>

"At the Euro, you face a lot of players playing in the Bundesliga. You start to know the shooters, the impacts, the timings. Of course, video work is important but nothing beats field experience. In video, you don't know exactly the power of the shot, the speed, if it's heavy, Omeyer points out again. 

In defense, a duo become trio

The hinge made up of Ludovic Fabregas and Luka Karabatic had the heyday of the post-Experts Blues. One image sums up their impact: Denmark's equalizing ball, stolen from Mathias Gidsel, fifteen seconds from the siren in the final of the Tokyo Olympics. "Ludo" and "Loulou" are our two twin towers in defense, the two truly pillars of our defense", describes Guillaume Gille.

"But today these two towers are completed by a third which is growing and which further solidifies the whole." This is Montpellier Karl Konan, 28 years old and 32 caps. The native of Cocody, Ivory Coast, allows the defensive impact to be perpetuated, even in the event of rotation.

"In my memory as a player, I have rarely seen so much density in this position, appreciates "Gino" Gille. It brings us both a lot of variety and a lot of energy. By being able to breathe life into Ludo and Luka who are in the oven and in the mill for a very long time in competitions. It's real strength."