Kumamoto (Japan) (AFP)
The Dutch handball players, trained by Frenchman Emmanuel Mayonnade, became world champions for the first time by beating the Spaniards, 30-29, in a final concluded on a controversial arbitration decision on Sunday in Kumamoto, Japan.
The Netherlands scored the last decisive goal, six seconds from the end, on a penalty awarded by the referees, the French Charlotte and Julie Bonaventura, for a fault by the pivot Ainhoa Hernandez, who tried to counter the dismissal of the goalkeeper Tess Wester. The images show that the Spaniard did not enter the zone, but they do not reveal whether she countered the ball before he crossed the line, which is prohibited.
The Netherlands succeed France, champion in 2017 and eliminated in the first round in Japan. It is a consecration for this relatively new nation at the highest level, which had broken through four years ago by already reaching the World Cup final, lost to Norway.
Since then, the Dutch have not left the last four of the major tournaments and have won medals at the Euros 2016 (silver) and 2018 (bronze) and the 2017 World Cup (bronze). But gold had always refused them.
At the Rio Olympics, the Dutch failed in the semi-final against France and finished fourth. They will have another opportunity to climb the podium next summer since the world title earns them a ticket to Tokyo.
- Russia in bronze -
This success confirms the talent of the young trainer Emmanuel Mayonnade, 36 years old, appointed last winter at the head of the "Oranje" and who combines the functions of coach with those of coach of Metz. He is quadruple champion of France in title with the Lorraine club which he also led to the Final Four of the Champions League last May.
The Frenchman took control at a difficult time after the international retirement of the best Dutch player, Nycke Groot, at only 31 years old.
It is perhaps the memory of their lost finals (at the World-2017 and at the Euro-2016, each time against Norway) which upset the Dutch at the start of the match where the Spaniards largely took the advantage (9-5).
The Netherlands, buoyed by Tess Wester's saves (12 in total) and the offensive talent of their two major players, Estavana Polman (9 goals) and Lois Abbingh (7 goals), were already ahead at the break (16 -13).
They seemed to fly to a large victory at the return of the locker room, the gap quickly reaching five goals, but the Spaniards, surprise guests of the final, were not discouraged, to the point of equalizing in the last minute and get a ball to take advantage.
The Dutch win gold in a World Cup where they lost three games, that of their entry into the competition against Slovenia and two others in the main round against Germany and Denmark, but where they were able to win the matches that 'it was necessary. They had notably succeeded in beating Russia in the semi-finals, finally bronze medalist thanks to its success over Norway (33-28).
© 2019 AFP