Kumamoto (Japan) (AFP)

The French handballers suffered their worst failure for more than twenty years losing their title in the first round of the World Cup Friday in Kumamoto. Should we be worried for their great ambition, the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics?

An unrecognizable team

Unskilled, ineffective in shooting, unable to react in adversity, the French team, beaten by Korea (29-27) and Denmark (20-18) and held in check by Brazil (19-19), showed "a face totally different from that of the two previous competitions", recognizes the back Alexandra Lacrabère, world champion in 2017 and of Europe in 2018.

Inescapable air hole

It remains to be seen why. First and foremost: the decline in the diet had to happen at one time or another. However France remained on a series already four long medals in a row (silver at the 2016 Olympic Games, bronze at the Euro-2016 and gold at the World Cup-2017 and Euro-2018). "We can not fix the sun too long," said coach Olivier Krumbholz.

Mentally difficult to tackle

Wedged between two competitions won and the Olympic goal, this World was difficult to mentally tackle the French, already qualified for Tokyo unlike their rivals. They of course wanted to do well, but "between wanting and put on the field that it takes energy to win, there is a lot of difference," warned the back Estelle Nzé-Minko before the match Decisive lost Friday against Denmark. "It's a decisive factor that we did not want to face - the motivation of the team was not up to that of the other teams," admits Krumbholz.

A failure of unexpected magnitude

We suspected that the Blue would have a hard time retaining their title. But from there to leave the tournament on the first lap! "We were very high these last two years and there we fell very low!", Recognizes Alexandra Lacrabère. The French game has broken down to a point that we did not imagine either. "It's not so much the failure that is causing us problems, it's the way, the fact that we have not managed to express ourselves and unfold our game, to be at our level simply", underlines the winger Manon Houette.

Major players must react

To turn the tide, the key elements of the team must regain their influence, including Estelle Nzé-Minko, the best player of the Euro-2018, which was not at best in Japan, but also Grace Zaadi, the organizer, less brilliant than during the triumphs of the two previous years. We must also hope for a boost of luck that would allow it to be complete. Goalkeeper Amandine Leynaud, the best Frenchwoman in the World, was a bit lonely in Japan without Laura Glauser (knee injury).

Staying together

Despite the disappointment, the players must "stay together, this is the most important point," said Manon Houette. After the last defeat at the Euro-2015 (defeat in quarters), a conflict had erupted between the coach of the time, Alain Portes, and some players. This crisis caused Olivier Krumbholz's return to business. "I do not feel that we will dissociate, quite the opposite," says the Messina before the two ranking games (13th to 16th place) little exciting that the Blue will play Sunday against Angola and Monday (in case of victory) against Hungary or Argentina.

Choices to make

For Tokyo, Olivier Krumbholz will have choices all the more difficult to make the Games as the group is only fourteen players against sixteen at the World. "The punishment of one is not greater than the penalty of the other and there are no privileges," said the coach, who showed it by dismissing during the tournament Camille Ayglon, the most cape of all, for the benefit of Gnonsiane Niombla. "Old or new, the pressure is there for all, it's up to us to make the decision easier by being on top," says Alexandra Lacrabère, one of the most experienced.

© 2019 AFP