Kumamoto (Japan) (AFP)

A defeat and it will already be over: the French handball players, defending champions, play their Mondial with double or double face in Denmark, Friday in Kumamoto, Japan.

The Blues have struggled in missing their first two meetings against South Korea (29-27 defeat) and against Brazil (19-19 draw).

Their jolt Wednesday against Germany (27-25) must absolutely be confirmed under penalty of elimination in the first round that would make a few months mess of the ultimate goal, the Tokyo Games.

Such a misadventure has not happened to the defending champions since the East Germans in 1973. France has not finished above the 12th place since 1995 (not qualified that year).

Even if a failure would not have immediate consequence since the Blue have already their ticket for Tokyo, it is their standing that is at stake.

Souffrante at the beginning of the tournament, the France team showed signs of renewed against Germany, but everything remains fragile.

- "We live from day to day" -

"We live from day to day since our failures, with the knife under the throat.There is a great willingness of the players to question and look for the keys," says coach Olivier Krumbholz, who saw his group " enterprising, committed, but still very perfectible ". "We're in the middle of the ford," he says.

Against Germany, the French came out of the torpor that seized them against all odds against Koreans and Brazilians, though much less strong than they are on paper.

"We found the soul of the team, there were a lot of smiles during this match, even if it was close, there was between us that good connection we had been looking for since the start of this World Cup. We do not want to ruin everything, "promised Pauline Coatanea.

The coach was forced to solicit "more than he hoped for" the team executives, the defender and pivot Béatrice Edwige, the half-center Grace Zaadi and especially the goalkeeper Amandine Leynaud who held the team at arm's length. Les Bleues hope not to pay the bill.

- Danes "to life to death" -

With the Danes, who have often beaten in recent years, especially at the Euro last year, the French can be sure to find fiercely motivated rivals because, in case of defeat, the Scandinavians will have every chance of not not participate in the next Olympic Games.

"It's a team that will play life to death, we can imagine what is at stake for them, I try to put myself in their shoes, it's a mixture of excitement and envy, but also a maximum of pressure because it is the descent into hell if they do not win, "said Estelle Nze-Minko.

If the obstacle was crossed, the team of France would arrive at the main round with two points, like the two other qualified, Germany and Korea. In a second group stage where she would probably face Norway, the Netherlands and Serbia or Slovenia, the road to the semi-finals would remain open.

© 2019 AFP