Cairo (AFP)
Appointed at the head of the French handball team in January 2020, Guillaume Gille had to wait a year to finally lead the Blues during the World Cup in Egypt: courageous choice, establishment of a game board and distance with the media, the new coach has sketched the outlines of his mandate.
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Strong decisions
Before leaving for Egypt, the former center-half of the Blues (44) had already made a strong decision by not retaining captain Cédric Sorhaindo, whose armband was taken over by Michaël Guigou.
From the start against Norway, the staff surprised by starting Wesley Pardin rather than Vincent Gérard in goal.
Winning bet: Pardin stops 18 shots and France ideally launches its World Cup (28-24).
Kentin Mahé running out of fuel from the end of the main lap, "Gino" finds an alternative by positioning right-backs Nedim Remili or Dika Mem in the center rather than Melvyn Richardson, behind.
Deprived of Luka Karabatic for the semi-final against Sweden (26-32) and the match for 3rd place against Spain (35-29), Gille revived Adrien Dipanda in defense.
Failed, but at least he will have tried everything.
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"Feeding" everyone
In this "marathon" that is the World Cup, the new coach was also distinguished by his desire to "give food to everyone", that is to say his 16 players registered on the scoresheet.
Even if it means completely missing the start against Algeria with the usual replacements Richardson, Dipanda and Tournat.
If Gille is so keen on rotations, it is so that everyone "is able to meet the demands of the task when we call on him".
A better distribution of playing time also promotes, according to the coach, the emergence of "a dense, homogeneous group".
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Participatory oligarchy
The institutionalization of the board of play, meeting in small committee with the players most involved in the circulation of the ball, reflects the will of the staff to give "a lot of liberties" to the players, estimates the half-center Kentin Mahé.
Three half-centers, 3 central defenders and 1 goalkeeper are part of it, according to captain Guigou, a winger who therefore has no say.
It is therefore especially Mahé, the playmaker, Luka Karabatic, the defense boss, Ludovic Fabregas, indispensable on both sides of the field, and Nedim Remili, leader in gestation, who animate this circle of reflection whose objective is to develop "game movements that we would like to make", according to Mahé, and make them converge with the intentions of the staff.
This collaborative management works in both directions: "If we feel it is OK for them, and vice versa; if they support a movement that they would like to see, we will try to respect the instructions. . "
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From temperate to very cold
For their first, the duo composed of Gille and his assistant Erick Mathé, the coach of Chambéry, appeared in control on the ground, even when the boat was taking water from all sides in the quarter-final against Hungary.
"It is their way of operating, they are two fairly calm, calm, serene temperaments", comments Guigou.
Despite this failed start to the match, the Savoyard duo took their time to take a time out.
"The idea is to find the right balance between the moment when it is necessary to act and the moment when it is necessary to give serenity, confidence", explained Gille whose natural calm had a positive impact on the group, according to Mahé.
If Gille doesn't put on a "costume" to "get the right message to the players" - "that's who I am first and foremost," he says - he doesn't wear gloves either. vis the media regularly dismissed, especially on personal issues.
A distance, a mistrust that is reflected in the few interviews granted to journalists, even the few present on the spot like AFP, and limited and timed meetings with the players.
No seduction operation, only the results will count.
© 2021 AFP