Paris (AFP)
Pivotal Luka Karabatic and center-half Kentin Mahé, who missed Euro-2020 in January due to injury, are back on the French handball team for the two Euro-2022 qualifying matches, announced on Friday. coach Guillaume Gille.
For this first list since taking office, Guillaume Gille wished to summon the players present during the failure of Euro-2020 (elimination from the 1st round), which led to the change of coach, Gille taking the place of Didier Dinart.
"Launching this first phase of qualification only makes sense if we find the workforce that we have associated with this work of assessment and reconstruction. This list is in line with the work that was initiated since the reconfiguration of the staff and the long period, without gatherings, which followed ", explained the coach.
Luka Karabatic (Paris SG) and Kentin Mahé (Veszprem) are back, as well as Timothey N'Guessan (Barcelona) at the left-back position and Yanis Lenne (Montpellier) on the right wing.
The Blues will be deprived for many months of their master to play, Nikola Karabatic, victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee a week ago in the league.
"Nikola's injury upsets the balance and leadership of the team. His absence opens the way for Timothey, who we would like to see again in the context of the France team, after an interesting start to the season," estimated Guillaume Gille.
As part of the qualifiers for Euro-2022, the Blues face Belgium on Thursday November 5 (9 p.m.) in Chambéry, then will travel to Kozani to meet Greece on Sunday November 8.
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