HANDBALL. “Launched towards the quest for a new charm”: France beats Brazil in its last match before Euro 2024

The French won their two friendly matches? Icon Sport – FFHB

French handball players concluded their preparation for Euro 2024 with a success against Brazil (37-28) on Saturday January 6 in the XXL hall in Nantes, four days before the start of the tournament in Germany.

After dominating Tunisia on Thursday (35-26), the Bleus, vice-world champions, this time played out in the second period (14-14 at the break) against their Auriverde opponents, of superior caliber.

This eleventh success in as many matches against the Seleçao of Montpellier Bryan Monte confirms the good form of the men of Guillaume Gille, before the opening match of l'Euro against North Macedonia on Wednesday in the Düsseldorf stadium (6 p.m.), where around fifty thousand spectators are expected.< /p>

"It's was a hard-fought match that the Brazilians played at face value, coach Gille analyzed after the match on the L'Equipe channel. In the first half we had good and bad moments. We had inaccuracies in large spaces where we missed favorable situations. In second, the rotations allowed us to get the victory. France is launched in the quest for a new charm. We know that we are going to play for ourselves in every match."

Desbonnet holder in the cages

In the absence of the usual starter in the blue cages, Vincent Gérard, forfeited due to injury for the tournament, the goalkeeper of the Montpellier Handball Rémi Desbonnet was once again lined up from the start, as against Tunisia, suggesting a role as N.1. Unlike Thursday, it was the former Dunkirk goalkeeper, Samir Bellahcene, who succeeded him – and not Charles Bolzinger.

The current joker of Vincent Gérard in Kiel, Germany, took advantage of his fourth selection only to score his first goal with the French team by scoring in the empty cage (28-21). At the Euro, after North Macedonia, whose coach is none other than the legend Kiril Lazarov, the French will face Switzerland then the host country Germany.< /p>

They should then cross paths with Spain and Croatia in the second group phase, called the main round, unless there is a huge underperformance. Even if the Blues are already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in a little over six months, a failure would look bad for the Olympic title holders who have not won a Euro for ten years.