Paris (AFP)

Pauletta Foppa, imperial at her pivotal position, and Cléopatre Darleux, impassable goalkeeper, brought back the smile to the French handball players, who dominated Denmark 27 to 23 Sunday in Viborg, at the conclusion of the Golden League.

In Danish Jutland, the French returned to competition after their failure at the 2019 World Cup in Japan last December (elimination in the first round), and tested against Montenegro, Norway and Denmark.

After an easy victory against a diminished Montenegrin team (29-13) and a short setback against Norway (29-28), the Blue performed a good performance against Denmark in this friendly tournament in preparation for Euro-2020 ( December 3-20).

Neck to neck throughout the meeting, the players of Olivier Krumbholz made the difference in the last ten minutes on ... a double numerical inferiority very badly negotiated by the Danes.

Goals from Alexandra Lacrabère, Pauletta Foppa and Coralie Lassource, accompanied by parades from Cléopatre Darleux allowed the French to escape (23-20) and no longer give up control of the meeting.

Foppa ended the match with three goals on the clock and caused five penalties all converted by Lacrabère, at the end of a weekend where the Brest pivot stood out with remarkable consistency over the three matches.

In goals, Cléopatre Darleux made her return to the French team after two years without wearing the blue jersey (injury, then maternity break, then international meetings suspended by the Covid-19).

Sunday, she engaged in a duel from a distance with her teammate in Brest, Sandra Toft.

She was decisive, especially in the second half, and ended the game with 15 saves.

For this stage of the Golden League, the two usual incumbents of the post, Amandine Leynaud and Laura Glauser, were absent - Glauser due to injury, Leynaud at his request and in agreement with the staff.

The French will find Norway and Denmark, for a new stage of the Golden League at the end of November in Norway, with Poland in third opponent.

They will then leave for Herning (Denmark) for the defense of their European title won two years ago at Paris-Bercy.

In the first round, they will face Denmark, Montenegro and Slovenia.

© 2020 AFP