The French team tests itself against Tunisia before the European Championship in Germany

Charles Bolzinger joue gros cette semaine à Nantes. MAXPPP – MICHEL VIALA

Six days before the start of Euro 2024, on January 10 in Düsseldorf against North Macedonia, the Blues challenge the selection of Patrick Cazal this Thursday in Nantes (8 p.m.).

The French men's handball team has not won the European Championship since 2014. On the scale of this selection, still Olympic champion in 2021 at Tokyo is getting old.

Will Euro 2024, from January 10 to 28 in Germany, be the right one, seven months before the Olympics at home, the meeting point of a sporting life ? It is still too much early to respond as the Blues play this Thursday evening in Nantes (8 p.m.), the first of the two preparation meetings on their agenda before crossing the Rhine.

It will be against Patrick Cazal's Tunisia, in search of qualification for Paris 2024, in a few days, during the African Nations Championship. The Blues will continue against Brazil, Saturday afternoon (4:30 p.m.), still in Nantes.

Bellahcene, Bolzinger, Desbonnet, what goalkeeper n°1 ?

It is too early to answer because many questions are still bothering coach Guillaume Gille. In the absence of Vincent Gérard, recovering after a surgical operation, the boss of the French team must choose a new number 1 goalkeeper. Between Samir Bellahcene (Kiel) and the two Montpellier residents Charles Bolzinger and Rémi Desbonnet there is a match.

"At the moment, no hierarchy is established. The main thing is that the position works well during the Euro, suggested the coach during the press briefing organized Tuesday at the Mercure hotel where Nikola's partners reside Karabatic, still there at almost 40 years old. He will have them on April 11.

Guillaume Gille has still not decided the number of players he will take to Germany. He can very well start with a selection of 20 boys and send four disgruntled people into the stands in each match. Conversely, he can already anticipate the Olympics and embark on the adventure with only sixteen items. There will be fifteen (14 plus a replacement) in July in Paris. "We will take the time to think in order to choose the best option for the team", explains Gille. In short, you shouldn't miss Nantes or you'll end up staying at home.

At 8 p.m. in Nantes, on beIN SPORTS, the L’Equipe channel and HandballTV.

The 20 Blues: Bellahcene, Bolzinger, Briet, Desbonnet, Descat, Fabregas, N. and L. Karabatic, Konan, Lenne, Mahé , Mem, Minne, N’Guessan, Nahi, Porte, Prandi, Remili, Richardson, Tournat.