Paris (AFP)
Long dominated by Spain, the French handball team snatched the victory on penalties (31-31, 5 tab 3), to win Saturday in Aalborg (Denmark) the first leg of the Golden League, a friendly tournament organized within three months of the Euro.
As a symbol of the renewal of the Blues, it is the young rear Elohim Prandi (21 years) who for his second selection gave the victory to the team of France, just after a decisive stop Wesley Pardin, third goalkeeper of the selection tricolor.
Before that, the Blues, led five goals early in the second period (15-20), made a "remontada" to equalize through the southpaw Dika Mem, just before the siren. "We played seven against six, we knew what to do, I did not have any pressure," responded the right-back of Barça, elected man of the match, at the microphone of the chain L'Equipe.
The strategy decided by the coach Didier Dinart during a final timeout, replacing the goalkeeper Yann Genty by a field player, has proven to be paying off. And the mission is accomplished for the French, who want to place the year 2020 under the sign of the reconquest.
Two major events await the Blues who have, rare, no title to defend: the Euro first, from January 9 to 26 in Sweden, Austria and Norway and especially the Tokyo Games (July 25 - August 8) for which they are not yet qualified.
If Nikola Karabatic and her partners have more than once wavered against Spain, European Champion in title, they can boast of having answered present in important moments.
"We are super happy (...) We have been led and go up like that a match so tight is always positive for the state of mind," savored the returning Luc Abalo, several decisive moments in the second half. The entry into the cage Genty has also done good in the last quarter of an hour to complete this Danish stay on a good note.
The Blues, who defeated Denmark (31-27), world champion and Olympic title on Thursday, will host the second leg of the Golden League January 3 and 5 in Metz and Paris.
© 2019 AFP