Olivier Krumbholz's players will meet the Hungarians at the end of Sunday afternoon (5 p.m.), still in Coubertin, for a final confrontation before flying to Spain and Granollers, where they will go in search of a third planetary title after 2003 and 2017.

Friday night in a well-filled Coubertin stadium in western Paris, the Bleues took a tiny quarter of an hour to take the measure of unruly Hungarians, with four temporary exclusions that allowed the French to escape the score (7 -1 over these four periods).

During the first thirty minutes of play, Laura Glauser, aligned to keep the goals of the France team, achieved an excellent performance, with nine saves at 50%.

Something to restore her confidence, she who did not participate in the golden adventure in Tokyo a little less than four months ago.

It was well helped by a defense which gradually suffocated the Magyar offensives, muddled in the first period.

Result: nine goals difference (18-9) when returning to the locker room at the break, with their two center-halves Grace Zaadi (four goals) and Méline Nocandy (3) in great shape.

French center-half Grâce Zaadi, facing Hungary, in their preliminary round match at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, July 25, 2021 Daniel LEAL AFP

The second period was more balanced, but Estelle Nze Minko, best player of Euro-2020 a year ago, provided the spectacle for the 3,500 spectators of Coubertin, ending the meeting with eight goals, including six in the second. period and a kung fu offered by Pauline Coatanéa to finish.

French left-winger Estelle Nze Minko, facing Hungary, in their preliminary round match at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, July 25, 2021 Daniel LEAL AFP / Archives

The last quarter of an hour was more complicated, with the Hungarians gradually returning to the score (31-27, 56th), taking advantage of a little less physical blow from the Blue.

For this first preparation match, Olivier Krumbholz decided on Friday to leave Cléopatre Darleux, Allison Pineau, Lucie Garnier and Orlane Ondono to rest.

The French will start their World Cup against Angola next Friday (6:00 p.m.), before moving on against Slovenia (December 5, 6:00 p.m.) then against Montenegro (December 7, 8:30 p.m.).

© 2021 AFP