Rémi Desbonnet et la défense française ont réussi une entrée tonitruante dans ce Mondial. MAXPPP – MATTHIEU BOTTE
En Croatie, l'équipe de France a idéalement lancé sa quête d'une septième étoile mondiale. Les joueurs de Guillaume Gille pourront valider leur billet pour le tour principal dès jeudi en battant le Koweït.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The French handball team launched their World Cup and their reconquest operation after the Olympic fiasco with a big win against Qatar (37-19) on Tuesday in Porec (Croatia). The Blues will face Kuwait on Thursday in Group C, another opponent who is not in the same category as them, to validate their ticket for the main round.
Ten years after having stood up to them in the World Cup final at home, the Qataris were no match, despite the presence of Zarko Markovic and Rafael Capote, who had made the French suffer (winners 25-22).
Diligent in defense
Guillaume Gille's players had an easy start in the small cocoon of the Zatika Sport Centre (3,700 seats) in Porec, in Istria, in the northwest of Croatia, in front of around fifteen French supporters. Ideal for getting back into competition after the snub of the Paris Olympic Games (elimination in the quarter-finals).
They were diligent, especially in defense, where they left crumbs for the Qataris, often forced to take forced or blocked shots, and protected Rémi Desbonnet well, who put in a solid performance. Their good defense and the quick recovery of the Montpellier goalkeeper, who played more than 45 minutes before being replaced by Samir Bellahcene, allowed them to make the gap on the counterattack from the start of a match controlled from start to finish (6-2, 11th then 13-6, 21st and 22-12, 38th).
7 goals for Briet
On alternating current during their two victories in preparation (38-27 against the Czech Republic then 44-38 against Portugal), they did not experience a slump this time. They did however experience some waste in attack, particularly on the wings, where they let goalkeeper Anadin Suljakovic shine.
Thibaud Briet (7 goals on 9 shots) confirmed his good form at left back where Gille had chosen to leave in the stands Elohim Prandi, who has only had one game since his dislocated left shoulder in early November. The Parisian could take advantage of the match against Kuwait to find his rhythm again.