Kumamoto (Japan) (AFP)

Dominatrix for two years, French handballers fell from their pedestal at the World Cup where they gave up their title in the first round after another defeat against Denmark, 20 to 18, Friday in Kumamoto, Japan.

"It's a good slap," said coach Olivier Krumbholz.

We knew that a few months before the ultimate goal, the Olympic Games, this tournament would be difficult to tackle mentally. It is not for nothing that in the history of handball only one team managed to win the World Cup and the Olympic Games in the wake (Norway in 2011 and 2012). But from there to imagine such a rout ...

This is the worst performance of France in a World since she became a great power of the sport, with its final in 1999. It is also the end of an unprecedented series of four medals in a row: silver to J0-2016, bronze to Euro-2016 and gold to World-2017 and Euro-2018.

- "Difficult landing" -

"It's going to be a tough landing, it's the first time we're going to play the President's Cup," said Allison Pineau, one of the group's elders, talking about the upcoming two-game classification 13th to 24th.

The Blues had entered the entry difficulty losing against all odds against South Korea (29-27), then conceding a draw against Brazil (19-19), two teams that do not part of the big candidates for the podium.

Wednesday's comeback against Germany (27-25) has maintained hope for a rescue, but it has not been confirmed against the Danes, a team that France is used to beat too, as last year at the Euro.

But the Scandinavians were over-motivated because in case of defeat, they would have not only left the World Cup but also pulled a line on their hopes of participating in the Games. The Blues, they are qualified for Tokyo since their title at Euro-2018.

As in previous matches, the French have been catastrophic shooting (12 goals on 37 attempts in the field) to the image of Estelle Nzé-Minko (0 of 3), who had been the best French in the Euro- 2018, but also the young Orlane Kanor (2/6) or Grace Zaadi (2/6).

- Turn to Tokyo -

"We had solved the problem of shooting in the last two competitions with players who had exceptional stats, but then we redupled," said Krumbholz.

The French, who could be content with a draw to end in the last minute in the main round, ran constantly after the score and have never managed to pass. Yet Danes, just less clumsy than they did not make a great match, with the exception of the guardian Brest Sandra Toft (15 stops).

Fell in the highest group, the French team suffered from the absence of his captain Siraba Dembélé (maternity) and that of second goalkeeper Laura Glauser, injured knee this fall, which left Amandine Leynaud l full responsibility for the cage, assumed with talent. "It's the only one to save in this World Cup," said pivot Beatrice Edwige.

As bitter as it may be, this failure does not in any way call into question the goal of the French women to be Olympic champions for the first time next summer. Provided that "everyone calls into question!", Warned Krumbholz, who considers "forms of renewal in the game or in the players".

© 2019 AFP