Handball Euro: “Something big is coming”, reactions after France-Austria

Le Montpelliérain Samir Bellahcene a encore été costaud contre l'Autriche. dpa – Federico Gambarini

Le sélectionneur français Guillaume Gille et quelques-uns de ses joueurs se sont livrés après la victoire des Bleus contre l'Autriche (33-28) et la qualification pour le dernier carré.

Guillaume Gille, coach of the French handball team : "We used the first match point to qualify for the main round after a match that was not easy. It took us a while to find a somewhat regular performance. (…) The regularity proves the quality of this team, the consistency of its performance. This places us as a reference team in the international concert."

Dika Mem, right back of the Blues: "We really want to finish this group stage with as many victories as possible and at the top of the group. (….) Qualification represents a lot, the French team has not got people used to it well. It's not easy. Five semi-finals (in a row in a big tournament, Editor's note), it shows that we are there all the time and now we want to go to the end. (…) Samir was very good. If we want to be a great nation, it also requires goalkeepers. The best have goalkeepers making around fifteen saves per match. Today it was Samir. It could be any one, we trust all three."

VICTOIRE ! 🇫🇷33-28🇦🇹
C'est fait, les BLEUS s'imposent face à l'Autriche et filent en demi-finale ! 🔥
Les BLEUS affronteront la Hongrie mercredi pour clôturer le tour principal
🇫🇷⚡🇭🇺
L'aventure Européenne continue ! 💪🇫🇷#BleuetFier pic.twitter.com/baRJGFGpTg

— Equipes de France de Handball (@FRAHandball) January 22, 2024

Samir Bellahcene, goalkeeper of the Blues: "I'm super happy. Something big is coming (…) Strangely, the room was for us this evening and it grew well. Afterwards I understood for myself, my German friends thanked me at the end, I was entitled to "danke" and & ;quot;thanks""

Benoît Kounkoud, right winger of the Blues : "The last four is a goal every time for the& #39;France team but above all the final victory. It's been a while since we won a Euro and it's on everyone's mind. We are proud today but nothing is done, we want nothing other than the gold medal."