REPLAY. France-Croatia: too soft, the Blues were eaten by Croatians excited by their public

Karabatic scored the goal that sent France to the semi-finals in the last second against Egypt. FFHandball – Iconsport

The French handball team logically lost to Croatia, who were playing at home in the Zagreb Arena, in the semi-finals of the 2025 World Cup, this Thursday, January 30 (28-31).

A match to relive here:

10:45 p.m.

End of the match: France 28 – 31 Croatia

Despite a better second half (17-13 for France over the period), the Blues lost against Croatia. Mem (8 goals) was too alone in attack to make the difference, the others were struggling: Remili, Prandi with a single goal, Briet with two. On the Croatian side, the future Montpellier player Srna made his mark with 8 goals, well accompanied by Jelinic (7 goals) and Martinovic (6 goals). Author of 14 saves, including two on a 7m throw, Kuzmanovic never let the French get back into the game after a missed first half (9 lost balls), especially in front of the 1-5 defense of the country on the checkered board. France will have to remobilize to go for the bronze on Sunday at 3 p.m., against the loser of the other semi-final (Denmark-Portugal).

10:42 p.m.

59e

Timeout called for Croatia to enjoy the moment. Glavas' last missed shot, Desbonnet tries the direct recovery that Kuzmanovic easily catches. Grébille will score the last goal of the match (28-31)

22h41.

58e

Sipic cleans up and scores the goal of the final for Croatia (27-31). Kuzmanovic disgusts Grebille with his 14th save of the game.

22h40.

57e

Mem snatches a 7m throw. Richardson finally scores (27-30). All-terrain defense from the Blues who play their all. Nahi gets two minutes for belting.

22h38.

56e

Refusal to play against Croatia. Karacic provokes a 7m throw for a zone defense. Glavas scores against Bolzinger and the gap seems to be made (26-30).

22h38.

55e

Fabregas recovers the ball but refuses to play against the Blues. Briet's shot is blocked, Mem places a schwenker to reduce the score (26-29).

22h34.

54e

Glavas provokes the exclusion of Remili for two minutes. Karacic stumbles on Desbonnet but the counter is missed by Kounkoud who hits the crossbar.

22h31.

53e

Video is requested for a rough contact by Jelinic on Remili. He receives a two-minute suspension after viewing. Double numerical inferiority for the Croatians. Refusal to play that Karacic ends with a goal (25-29). Quick engagement of the Blues who try to score in the empty goal but Kuzmanovic comes back from nowhere to get the ball out.

22h29.

52e

Jelinic maintains the score with a new goal on the wing (24-28). Mamic receives a two-minute suspension for a hand to the face of Briet. Mem is the only one to keep the Blues in the match with a new goal (25-28).

22h27.

51e

Martinovic takes his chance but his shot in support goes wide. Mem brings France back to three goals (24-27).

22h27.

50e

Kounkoud is checked by Kuzmanovic but Tournat beats the Croatian goalkeeper just after at 6m (23-27).

22h25.

49e

Martinovic's shot is blocked by the defense but the ball is still Croatian. His next shot is exceptional and goes into the far corner (22-27).

22h23.

48e

Martinovic resumes dribbling. Lucin is given two minutes for a foul on Mem's arm in suspension. Mem quickly takes the interval to score a new goal (22-26).

22h21.

47e

Refusal of play against Croatia who get away with a schwenker from Martinovic to crucify Desbonnet (21-26). Remili takes a shot too quickly which is stopped by Kuzmanovic.

22h20.

46e

Nahi intercepts the ball on the advanced defense and Remili capitalizes on the rapid rise (21-25). Timeout requested by Croatia to stem the blue comeback.

22h18.

45e

Srna continues his festival with a new goal at 6m (19-25). Nahi is effective on his left wing in this match with a new success (20-25).

22h17.

44e

Desbonnet returns with a save on Karacic's shot. Bos misses his shot on the post but Fabregas recovers and scores from 6m (19-24).

22h15.

43e

Mem locks up on the left wing and his shot is too easy for Kuzmanovic. Fabregas recovers the ball on the restart. Nahi recovers a 7m throw for a zone defense but Remili stumbles again on Kuzmanovic.

10:14 p.m.

42e

Srna outside the sector rebounds and deceives Bolzinger (18-24). Remili loses the ball in attack but Maras misses the counterattack.

22h13.

41e

Mem takes the external gap and deceives Kuzmanovic with a small shot at the second post (18-23).

22h12.

40e

Fabregas is found in pivot and finds space to score (17-22). Refusal to play against Croatia and Srna finds space to score (17-23).

22h09.

39e

Mem takes the shot but it's on Kuzmanovic. Jelinic comes to get a 7m throw against Remili who was in the zone. Glavas stumbles on Bolzinger!

22h08.

38th

Briet makes a top to reach 6m and reduce the score (16-21). Martinovic finds the gap and comes to shoot Bolzinger from close range (16-22).

22h06.

37th

Refusal to play against the Croatians. Maras comes to earn two minutes of suspension against Konan. Glavas is shifted to his right wing and finds the long corner (15-21).

22h05.

36e

Lucin takes his chance at 9m but it is diverted by the counter. He finds an external gap to beat Bolzinger (15-20). Nahi misses his duel on the left wing against Kuzmanovic.

22h03.

35e

Remili runs into Kuzmanovic but Fabregas plays volleyer in the zone to send the ball into the goal (15-19).

22h01.

34e

The advanced defense of the Blues hinders the progress of the Croatian attack. Maras central sector takes his chance but the counter hinders him and Bolzinger stops the ball.

21h59.

33e

Martinovic loses the ball on a pass that is too strong for his winger. Mem with space in front of him has time to adjust his shot to deceive Kuzmanovic (14-19).

21h57.

32e

Jelinic finds space at the near post to beat Bolzinger from his left wing (12-19). Briet takes his chance at 9m and Kuzmanovic intervenes in two stages, video to check but the ball has crossed the line (13-19).

21h54.

31e

Srna takes the external interval but his lob on Bolzinger goes over the goal. The blue 1-5 defense also poses problems for the Croatian attack. The referees will watch the video because on the contact in attack Minne touches the face of a Croatian defender with his elbow, red card for the most prominent blue player of the match…

9:53 p.m.

30e

The Blues kick off the second half. At the end of a botched attack, Minne finds a small space to score (12-18).

9:38 p.m.

Half-time: France 11 – 18 Croatia

Without a solution in attack in front of the advanced Croatian defense (9 lost balls) and not aggressive enough in defense letting the Croatian backs feast on long-range shots, the Blues have a heavy loss at the break and will have to be perfect in the second half to hope for anything.

21h38.

29e

Mem takes his chance but Kuzmanovic pushes the shot away. Minne at the end of his suspension reduces the score (11-18).

21h36.

28e

Minne finds a space alone to reduce the score (10-18). Bolzinger makes a huge save on Srna's shot and Minne finally gets the ball back after a save.

21h34.

27e

Timeout requested by Croatia. France resumes play at 1-5. Bolzinger saves Martinovic's long-range shot.

21h33.

26e

Martinovic is still alone at 9m to find Bolzinger's top corner (9-18). French 7-man game but Prandi's shot is too quick and is easily stopped by Kuzmanovic.

9:31 p.m.

25e

Croatia remains in defense 1-5 and recovers another easy ball which is propelled into the empty goal (8-17), France having tried the 7-man game in attack. Prandi finds a space to reduce the score (9-17).

9:29 p.m.

24e

France cannot find any solutions in attack and loses another ball. Jelinic enjoys the counterattack and deceives Desbonnet (8-16). Timeout requested by France which does not exist in this match.

21h28.

23e

Sipic stumbles on Bolzinger and the Blues goalkeeper recovers the ball.

21h27.

22e

Kounkoud is shifted to the right wing and slows down the haemorrhage of Croatian goals (8-15).

21h26.

21e

Minne loses the ball on his attempted pass and Prandi takes two minutes for a belt on the counter… Glavas is found on the right wing and his shot deceives Bolzinger who has come back to replace Desbonnet (7-15).

21h25.

20e

Martinovic is still wandering 9m away and alone shoots at Desbonnet (7-14).

9:24 p.m.

19th

Still struggling in attack, Mem forces his shot and Kuzmanovic makes the save.

9:23 p.m.

18th

The Croatians take their time in attack and find another long-range shot by Srna, the Blues don't come out to bother the shooter (7-13).

9:22 p.m.

17th

Srna is not attacked and finds Desbonnet's top corner (7-12). Prandi is punished with a forced pass. The Blues are playing backwards for the moment.

21h21.

16e

Nahi performs a kung fu with Kounkoud who scores in turn (7-11).

21h19.

15e

Prandi and Tournat come into play. The blue pivot reduces the gap after a complicated pass from Remili (6-10). Martinovic catches the crossbar but it is again a Croatian at the reception and Sipic scores at 6m (6-11).

21h18.

14e

New loss of ball in attack by Remili but Maras is finally checked by Desbonnet. On the rise of the ball Maras puts his hand in the face of Fabregas and receives the first two minutes of suspension.

21h16.

13e

Remili finds the external gap to go for a 7m throw. Richardson comes up against Kuzmanovic who keeps his team ahead. Maras succeeds his shot through the counter and the room gets a little more excited (5-10).

21h14.

12e

Briet loses the ball in front of the 1-5 and Jelinic already scores his 4th goal on the counterattack (5-9). Time-out requested by Guillaume Gille for a French team that is led in a room that exults in front of the Croatian success.

21h13.

11e

Remili finds Fabregas who manages to score at the end of the extension to reduce the score (5-7). Martinovic finds an easy shot that deceives Desbonnet (5-8).

21h12.

10e

Kounkoud suffers the impact and the ball is returned to Croatia. Maras takes the external interval and comes to 6m to deceive Desbonnet (4-7).

21h11.

9e

Mem finds another perfect skylight to deceive Kuzmanovic (4-5). Martinovic is blocked by Konan but Jelinic receives the ball again on his left wing to conclude (4-6).

21h10.

8e

Maras in support finds space in the arms of the French defense and again +2 for Croatia (3-5).

21h08.

7e

Srna scores the goal all by himself while the Croatians were struggling to build their attack (3-4). Complicated shot from Briet that Kuzmanovic stops easily.

9:08 p.m.

6e

The Croatians take their time in attack and go as far as refusing to play. The forced shot is blocked. Desbonnet and Mem put Kounkound into orbit for the counter (3-3).

9:06 p.m.

5e

Quick recovery and Mem finds Kuzmanovic's top corner (2-3). Srna finds the crossbar on his shot but it is again Jelinic who recovers the ball.

9:04 p.m.

4e

The Croatians are banking on a 1-5 defensive increase during the blues' engagement, which hinders the attack. Mem sees his shot blocked by Kuzmanovic. Maras finds Desbonnet who reads his shot well.

9:03 p.m.

3e

Remili doesn't find Fabregas on his rebound pass and Jelinic scores the counter (1-3).

9:02 p.m.

2e

Maras fires a missile from 9m and Desbonnet can't do anything (1-2).

9:01 p.m.

1e

Long Croatian possession to start, Desbonnet checkmates Srna but Jelinic recovers and finishes on the left wing (0-1). Nahi, under the boos of the room, also scores from his left wing with a long corner shot (1-1).

21h00.

0e

It is the Croatian team that kicks off this semi-final.

20h55.

H – 5'

Guillaume Gille does not change a formula that works: Desbonnet in goal, Remili, Briet and Mem on the back base, Nahi and Kounkoud on the wings. Having recovered from his stomach flu, Fabregas will start the match at the pivot position and Konan will replace Remili in defense.

8:50 p.m.

H – 10'

As in every major competition, the importance of the goalkeepers will be predominant in this game. On the French side, Desbonnet holds the blue goals with a save percentage of 33%. On the side of the checkered nation, Kuzmanovic is having a huge tournament with a save percentage of 38% before this match.

8:45 p.m.

H – 15'

The winner of this historic duel will face the winner of the other semi-final between Denmark and the surprise Portuguese team on Friday, January 31. Both teams will have to travel to Norway where the final (Sunday, February 2 at 6 p.m.) and the small final (Sunday at 3 p.m.) will take place..

8:30 p.m.

H – 30'

A poster from the 2000s with no less than 6 semi-finals and 3 finals in international tournaments, the France-Croatia poster remains a classic in men's handball. In the final, the Blues were flawless (victories in the 95 World Championships, 2009 and Euro 2010). On the other hand, in the semi-finals, the results were more balanced with 3 victories for each nation. In the historical record, France leads with 22 wins against 14 losses and only one draw.

8:15 p.m.

H – 45'

Like the French team which came within a hair measuring 0.3 seconds against Egypt, Croatia had to battle with Hungary to win on the last action (31-30) after being led by 4 goals with five minutes to go. The two teams are therefore returning from the devil's vauvert and will be back to seek their 9th world final for the Blues and the 5th for the Croatians.

8:00 p.m.

H – 60'

The French team is meeting an old acquaintance for this semi-final of the 2025 World Cup: Croatia. At home, the Croatians will play in front of 15,000 spectators who are committed to their cause. The atmosphere will therefore be boiling in the hall and the Blues will have to overcome this to produce a quality performance and reach the final of the competition.