Herning (Denmark) (AFP)

Thanks to a very good start to the match and a very solid defense, the French handball players walked against Slovenia (27-17), Sunday in Herning (Denmark) for their second match of Euro-2020, and qualify for the main tour.

Tuesday evening (8:30 p.m.), the defending Blue European champions (2018) will pass a first big test against the Danish hosts for a sort of group final.

The winner of this poster will take a very nice option for qualifying for the last four of the competition.

"I'm proud of the match achieved. The defense was good and the goalkeepers were incredible. The attack was better than against Montenegro. It's a real good day for the France team. We postponed the first one. and the good France team are back, "said coach Olivier Krumbholz after the meeting.

During Euro-2018 at home, the French had already largely dominated Slovenia in the first round (30-21).

After a sluggish opening match against Montenegro (24-23 victory) on Friday, the French women clearly got up to speed on Sunday night.

In the space of twelve minutes, they killed all suspense by inflicting a 6-0 to the Slovenes led by Brest right-back Ana Gros, strapped and weakened by a thigh injury.

A gap made possible by an aggressive defense, marvelously led by Béatrice Edwige who proved intractable.

"We decided to focus on the defense, and I think we have a better first period. We breathe a little, we are qualified for the main round. We are gradually starting to get in order to walking and we are very happy, ”said Edwige after the match.

- Lacrabère passes the 800 -

Right-back Alexandra Lacrabère (243 caps) spent Sunday the symbolic mark of 800 goals for the France team, ending the game as the Blue's top scorer (7 goals including four seven-meter jets).

Estelle Nze-Minko, who had dazzled Euro-2018 with all her class, also raised the cursor compared to the match against Montenegro, with seven goals (all in the game) out of nine attempts, elected player of the match.

In goals, both Amandine Leynaud (8 saves) and Cléopatre Darleux (5 saves) did their part, as had been the case against Montenegro.

Now looming the shock against the Danes, contenders like the French for a place in the last four.

The players of Jesper Jansen, who face Montenegro in the evening, can only count on the support of a small handful of supporters: due to the Covid-19 pandemic and health restrictions imposed by the organizers, only 500 people may be in the Herning room, which can normally be over 10,000.

© 2020 AFP