Tokyo (AFP)

First conclusive test: the French handball players signed a great success on Friday against Spain (36-31), the toughest opponent in their group and already qualified like them for the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Games.

Unless there is a rout against Norway in their last match on Sunday, the first place in the group extends its arms to the Blues who have so far achieved a faultless, with four wins.

Faced with undefeated Spaniards until then, Guillaume Gille's men were very solid in this meeting, "a moment of evaluation, to know where we are", according to the coach.

Proof that it was more of a mock exam than a real competition, its players did not indulge in outpouring of joy at the buzzer.

"When you win against Spain, it marks the spirits but we are not there for that, relativizes Dika Mem, wanting to keep a cool head." We are there to win and go to the end.

In a great day, Nedim Remili seemed unstoppable (9 goals, 90% success) and Vincent Gérard made the necessary saves.

Eleven in total, including one in the final second of the first period to join the locker room with six goals ahead at the break (18-12).

Unlike the previous match against Germany, led by a time of six lengths, this time they have not loosened the grip against the double European champions Spain (2018 and 2020).

- "Shorter weak times" -

"What should be remembered is that our weak times did not last as long", underlines Vincent Gérard.

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"We put everything on the table so that the meal is of quality", appreciates Guillaume Gille.

Nikola Karabatic's gang has sprayed Spain from a distance (7 shots from nine meters), claiming the gold medal behind the great Danish favorites, double reigning world champions.

Guillaume Gille's men have shown in this Olympic tournament that they should be reckoned with.

They come from afar: from a hasty exit in the first round of Euro-2020 which cost former coach Didier Dinart his place.

The Egyptian World Cup in January brought them closer to the top of the world hierarchy.

Still, they had been quite clearly dominated by these same Spaniards in the small final (35-29), as before in the half against Sweden (32-26).

Failing to assure them a medal, the first place of their group in Tokyo would offer them the guarantee not to cross Denmark in the quarterfinals.

Even before a possible final if the double world champions continue their cardboard in the other pool.

"We can have been brilliant as we have been in recent days and experience a big disappointment in the quarter-finals," warns Guillaume Gille, Olympic champion in 2008 and 2012 with the Experts.

His guardian sums up: "For the moment around the time, we just have our accreditation, no medal yet."

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