Herning (Denmark) (AFP)
The French handball players, reigning European champions, qualified for the semi-finals of Euro-2020 in Denmark, thanks to their 31 to 25 victory against Sweden on Tuesday in the last match of the main round in Herning .
Siraba Dembélé's teammates must now wait for the result of the match between Russia and Denmark to know their opponent on Friday in the semi-finals.
It will be either Norway or Croatia, much less formidable.
To avoid the Norwegians, the French must hope that Russia will not beat Denmark.
Unbeaten since the start of the Euro (victories over Montenegro, Slovenia, Denmark and Spain, draw against Russia), the Blues needed not to lose to ensure a ticket in the last four .
The French had a little trouble getting into the match.
The Swedes, who were already eliminated, even had a two-goal lead in the first period.
Tied at the break (14-14), the European champions made the difference upon returning from the locker room by scoring the first three goals thanks to a boost from Kalidiatou Niakaté (two goals and a penalty caused).
They then scored often on the counter-attack and were no longer worried until the final whistle.
Estelle Nzé-Minko was the Blue's top scorer with six goals, ahead of Alexandra Lacrabère (5), effective on penalties.
"It was difficult in the first half but we were able to hang on. We resolved the defensive problems in the second half and we were able to raise the balloons. We are stepping up," said coach Olivier Krumbholz to the microphone from BeinSport.
This qualification for the half-stages of Euro-2020 is a first objective achieved for the French women, who absolutely wanted to regain their place in the last four of an international competition, after the failure of the World-2019 and elimination from the first tour a year ago in Kumamoto, Japan.
Since the 2016 Olympics, they have always been on an international podium, except for the 2019 World Cup: silver at the 2016 Olympics, gold at the 2017 World Cup and Euro-2018 and bronze at Euro-2016.
© 2020 AFP