In front of a small fifty French spectators massed in the stands of the Sports Palace of Granollers, north of Barcelona, ​​the players of Olivier Krumbholz experienced some approximations in the game in the first period, with several losses of the ball.

After a good twenty minutes of play (8-8), the Blue began to come off the score, well helped by the indiscipline of Angola, sanctioned in quick succession with two temporary exclusions which allowed the French to pass a 5-0 and take off (13-8, 27th).

Gradually in the second half, the French ensured success against the Angolans, who had left the Tokyo Games in the group stage with a victory, a draw and three defeats.

"Against Angola, we knew it would be complicated, especially in the first match. We know that it is a team with a lot of physical qualities. For the confidence of the team, it was important to win," a underlined Pauletta Foppa, top scorer for the French women on Friday night with 4 goals, just like Lucie Granier, brilliant for her first match in a major competition.

Les Bleues were able to count on their goalkeeper Laura Glauser, who played almost the entire meeting.

In 55 minutes, she made 16 saves (46%), enough to put a smile on the face of coach Olivier Krumbholz, who wants to relaunch her after a difficult 2020/21 season.

"She was at the top. The more time went on, the better she was and the more fun she had. She was lucid in the balance of power", appreciated Krumhoblz.

"It feels good. I'm coming back a bit. The girls have helped me a lot. The fact that he says he wants to revive me, it's flattering. I want to be there for the collective", explained Glauser.

The French Océane Sercien-Ugolin and Pauletta Foppa were superior to the Angolans for their entry into the World Cup in Granollers, December 3, 2021 Pau BARRENA AFP

If the French defense responded present, the attack was a little harder.

"The backs were a bit clumsy. It's playing hard, it's a bit destabilizing, we take hits. The attack has gone wrong, this is where we will have to be much better, with more lucidity, more sharp, "said the coach, highlighting the 6 of 13 shooting at halftime.

The French will face Ana Gros's Slovenia on Sunday afternoon (6:00 p.m.), and will finish their first round against Montenegro on Tuesday (8:30 p.m.).

The goal will be to leave no point on the way in order to approach the main round in the best conditions, with a view to the quarter-final.

© 2021 AFP