Tokyo (AFP)
The sluggish beginnings of the Bleues?
Evaporated in the sweltering of Tokyo.
A smashing success against the Netherlands (32-22) opened wide the doors of the semi-finals to French handball players who issued a warning to their next Swedish opponents
After the reigning Dutch world champions, it's up to Sweden (5:00 p.m. local / 10:00 a.m. in Paris) on Friday, falling from South Korea (39-30).
"We needed to meet again and after this match, we can say that the France team is back," relishes the back Laura Flippes, as a warning to the Swedes who join for the first time the last square of the Games.
In search of Olympic gold in Japan, the only title missing from their record, the players of Olivier Krumbholz had missed in the first round against the "Blagult" (blue and yellow) the penalty of winning (28-28) .
Grace Zaadi's last-second attempt had been halted and before that they had squandered a five-goal lead in the first period.
But what is the point of continuing to describe all the French failures of the group stage?
Obviously, the team seen against the Netherlands has little to do with the one seen so far.
"We do not pay much attention to the results we achieved in the first round, we had to go out, that's it," said Olivier Krumbholz after qualifying against Brazil (29-22).
French coach Olivier Krumbholz (g) and pivot Béatrice Edwige after the women's handball quarter-final of the Tokyo Olympics won against the Netherlands, August 4, 2021 Franck FIFE AFP
Apparently you had to believe it.
Amandine Leynaud, for example any at the beginning of the tournament, has found her usual standards of guardian of the temple and even so much more (22 saves, 51%).
- Leynaud "extraordinary" -
"She was extraordinary, it's a fantastic performance, praised Olivier Krumbholz. In all sectors, long shots, (passing) on the wing. She amazed me and I thank her."
After 11 Dutch shots at the start of the match, + Doudou + (as her teammates call her) had stopped nine.
"I make two or three saves at the start of the match which give me confidence, minimizes the person concerned. After I can read the situations."
To the point of signing a series of six parades in a row which pulled a grimace from the French coach of Oranje Emmanuel Mayonnade.
The tone of his match was set.
"We can not win against a goalkeeper with this stoppage rate", judges the coach
The Bleues took the world champions by the throat, sometimes almost literally, by the return of the intractable defense that made the success of this team from France, world champion (2017) and Europe (2018).
The Dutch Bo van Wetering facing the goalkeeper of the France team Amandine Leynaud in the quarter-final of the Tokyo Olympics ladies handball tournament, August 4, 2021 Franck FIFE AFP
And efficiency, which had been lacking in Grace Zaadi's band, was at the rendezvous of the quarters.
After widening the gap to ten goals (14-4!), The Olympic vice-champions joined the locker room with a comfortable mattress (19-11) without the Dutch never being able to hope to return afterwards.
"I'm not sure I have already experienced such a first quarter of an hour against an opponent of this value, recognizes Krumbholz. We dominated them from the start with a very physical defense."
The big Norwegian favorites, crowned European champions in December against the Blue (22-20), could not be reassured in front of their TV with a view to a possible final in Tokyo.
Because the formation of Stine Oftedal, opposed to the Russians in the next round, had more trouble against Hungary in the quarter and even was led 19-17 (43rd).
"We are not going to make up, warns Laura Flippes. We will do everything to get the most beautiful medals."
© 2021 AFP