Tokyo (AFP)

The French handball players qualified for their second Olympic final in a row and secured a 31st medal for France by winning against Sweden (29-27) on Friday at the Yoyogi stadium.

The Blue will compete for gold with the big favorites Norwegian or the Russians, opposed in the other semi-final on Friday (9:00 p.m. in Tokyo / 2:00 p.m. in Paris).

"I told the girls that we would go to the end, announces Allison Pineau. We are one game away from the most beautiful of medals."

Five years later, they are back in the final of the Games.

The sentence is enough to draw an exploit, the circumstances make it even more precise.

Fate hit the players of Olivier Krumbholz in the spring.

The Olympic vice-champions lost their captain Siraba Dembélé, their shooter Orlane Kanor and right-back Aïssatou Kouyaté to injuries.

A series all the more unfair because without the postponement of one year of the Games, they would undoubtedly have walked the floor of the Yoyogi stadium.

"We think of Alex (Lacrabère, returned to France during the tournament, editor's note), of Sira, of Orlane from the start," underlines goalkeeper Cléopâtre Darleux.

The difficult start of the tournament, four first matches concluded with a single victory and a feeling of excitement could have made people believe that it was too much to conquer in Japan the only title missing from their record, Olympic gold.

Three matches later and as many successes against the Brazilians, the Dutch world champions and therefore the Swedes, they are only one step away from the title.

- Collective strength -

"It's extraordinary to say to yourself that once again, in a row, we return to the Olympic final. I can measure how far we've come and the privilege of being there. It's a lot of emotion," relishes the setting. Allison Pineau, stirred.

A collective force emerges from these Blue champions of the world (2017) and of Europe (2018).

Even in an entry role since the start of the tournament, Allison Pineau carries this team in times of hesitation.

Les Bleues, imperial against Sweden, are qualified for the final of the Olympic handball tournament in Tokyo, August 6, 2021 Franck FIFE AFP

And after Amandine Leynaud, almost impervious against the Netherlands (22 saves, 51%), it was Cléopâtre Darleux who took over on Friday.

Entering after the break, the second goalkeeper signed 7 saves (35%) including a decisive double save in the 54th minute to allow hers to maintain a lead of two goals (26-24).

Undoubtedly the turning point of this hooked meeting, more bitter than imagined two days earlier when the players of Olivier Krumbholz had crushed the Dutch (32-22) in one of those days difficult to repeat, when everything aligns.

“Personally, I was a little panicked when we couldn't get away and the minutes went by,” admits Pauletta Foppa, the young pivot of this team (20 years old).

Big match for the gardennes of the French team Cléopatre Darleux and Amandine Leynaud who celebrate the victory over Sweden in Tokyo, August 6, 2021 Fabrice COFFRINI AFP

"It was long, it was hard, recognizes Allison Pineau, stirred. I told the girls during a downtime and in the changing rooms that it was going to take shape in time. I have the feeling that we had a pressure. , that we had to lead. Not at all, we had to keep our backs round. "

© 2021 AFP