Cairo (AFP)
Two major players of the French handball team, left-back Timothey N'Guessan and pivot Luka Karabatic, injured Wednesday against Hungary, are heading for a forfeit for the semi-final and the final of the World Cup in Egypt , indicated the doctor of the Blues Thursday.
Injured to the adductors in the first match against Norway, restored for a resounding return against Portugal on Sunday (5 goals in the first period), N'Guessan (28 years old, 83 caps) "has an injury, still, on this right thigh , at a different level from what he had. His first injury was well healed, unfortunately he recovered an injury, "said Pierre Sébastien in videoconference.
Patron of the defense where he pairs with Ludovic Fabregas, Karabatic (32 years old, 112 caps) presents him with an injury to the abdominals.
"It will be difficult to use them", said the doctor of the Blues, awaiting ultrasounds which will make it possible to establish a diagnosis "refined" by Friday or Saturday.
However, France faces Sweden on Friday in the semi-final, before a final or a match for the bronze medal against Spain or Denmark, the other semi-finalists, on Sunday.
Three days before the big deadline, coach Guillaume Gille said he wanted to "draw first from the pool" of 20 players in Egypt rather than bringing players from Europe in such a short time.
If the staff does have 15 reservists in France, the health crisis complicates things with the need to provide a negative PCR test for Covid-19 before flying to Cairo.
Third pivot behind Fabregas (Barcelona) and Karabatic (Paris), Nicolas Tournat (Kielce) was decisive in extra time against Hungary (35-32) with a goal and a penalty obtained.
The former Nantes driver finished 3/3 on close range shots.
At the left-back position, Jean-Jacques Acquevillo should make his return to the group of 16 players listed on the scoresheet.
With the return of N'Guessan at the end of the main round, the Nîmes player was once again part of the 4 substitutes present in Cairo.
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