Cairo (AFP)

On the road to renewal since entering the World Handball Championship in Egypt, the French men's team must finish building up points and confidence in the first round on Monday (6 p.m.) against Switzerland in the suburbs of Cairo.

"We continue to move forward like that, to increase our level and to find a little that of a steamroller, this desire to ride on everyone."

Valentin Porte did not go by half measures on Saturday, after a quiet victory against Austria (35-28), to testify to the renewed confidence within a team marked by an early elimination at the Euro -2020.

So beware of overconfidence?

The resounding success against Norway (28-24), shock of the first round and sacred trap in opening, allowed the Blues to open a royal road to the quarter-finals, the points acquired in the first round against the other qualified being kept in the main round.

But if Norway were the biggest rivals on the quarterfinal route, caution remains in order.

"We stay focused, we do not ignite, we try to keep our heads on our shoulders," explains legend Luc Abalo, 8 major titles including 3 Worlds on the clock in selection.

"We know that tomorrow we have a very difficult game against an opponent who should not be underestimated."

The draw conceded by Spain, European champion, against Brazil, like the one, more surprisingly, of Croatia against Japan (29-29) and the feat of Russia against Slovenia (31-25 ) show that nothing will be offered to favorites in Egypt.

- Last minute guest -

Especially since Switzerland, which arrived in Egypt just hours before its first match to replace the United States, heavily affected by the Covid-19, has already defied the forecasts by winning at the end of its crazy day against Austria (28-25).

If the Blues should be wary of playmaker Andy Schmid, specialist in attacks with 7 field players, "the trap would be to focus only on this player," said Luc Abalo.

"If they play at 7 (field players), it is because everyone can score on this game at 7; the goalkeepers (French) will have stops at 6 m to make because they find many solutions to this distance (at the edge of the zone), the pivot and the wingers shoot a lot ", analyzes the winger.

In addition to the game 7 against 6, Schmid excels "in the pass with his pivots and the shoot", adds the assistant coach of the Blues Erick Mathé.

"There is also Lenny Rubin, a big left-back who plays in Germany (at Wetzlar), a very good shot from distance."

Without forgetting the goalkeeper Nikola Portner whom the French know well since he plays in Chambéry after four seasons in Montpellier.

"He had a good second half against Norway and I hope he won't perform too well against us," commented Mathé.

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