By ensuring a success on Friday with a gap of ten goals against the reigning African champions, the players of Olivier Krumbholz have almost validated their place for the main round - the first three of each group are qualified - .

"And that's a good thing", underlines the coach, because it allows to definitively remove the remains of the "specter of Kumamoto", in reference to the elimination from the 1st round of the Blue at the World-2019 in Japan.

But since December 2019, the French have moved on, with two international finals: silver at Euro-2020 and gold at the Tokyo Games.

The Olympic champions, in search of a third world crown after 2003 and 2017, will have to adjust the sights when shooting from a distance on the back base.

"We are very perfectible and we will have to progress quickly, since it settled down well in the pool, with two teams that started up and two down," said Olivier Krumbholz.

The right-back of the France team, Océane Sercien Ugolin, tries to shoot over the Angolan defense, during their match of the 1st round of the 2021 World Handball Cup, on December 3, 2021 in Granollers (Spain) Pau BARRENA AFP

Fearsome Slovenian rear base

Faced with a Montenegro team diminished by the injury of Djurdjina Jaukovic, Slovenia made a strong impression, led by its three world-class full-backs with Ana Gros, Elizabeth Omoregie and Tjasa Stanko.

And goalkeeper Amra Pandzic repelled the Montenegrin offensive with 14 saves (54%).

"The rear base is already substantial, if in addition we make the goalkeeper shine, as was the case in 2017, it starts to do a lot", is wary the coach who remembers the entry setback against Slovenia ( 24-23) during the Mondial-2017, a competition that the French women had finally won.

The French Allison Pineau and Béatrice Edwige try to prevent the Slovenian Ana Gros from shooting, during their match of the preliminary round of Euro 2018, on December 2, 2018 in Nancy JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN AFP / Archives

With six goals on the clock in less than 30 minutes of play, Ana Gros has once again made use of her left arm, top scorer against Montenegro.

From there to reduce Slovenia to the former player of Metz and Brest?

"It's too reductive, but it's one of the keys to winning this match," said Estelle Nze Minko.

A year ago at Euro-2020, the French had perfectly muzzled the left-hander of CSKA Moscow (4/11) and had imposed 10 goals (27-17) in the first round.

"We have strengths, it will go through a big defense and make doubt Stanko, Omoregie, and Gros", underlines Krumbholz.

Without wishing to evoke a plan against Ana Gros, he admits: "It is quite obvious that in the game in defense, putting Ana Gros in difficulty is part of the balance of power".

The coach of the French handball team, Olivier Krumbholz, during the 1st match of the 1st round of the 2021 World Cup against Angola, on December 3, 2021 in Granollers (Spain) Pau BARRENA AFP

While the Blue are treating a few injuries (crutch for Béatrice Edwige in particular), a success would allow to approach the main round with at least two points on the clock.

© 2021 AFP