A draw or a victory, whatever the score, against the Danes, Olympic vice-champions and first qualifiers on Monday after their victory against the Netherlands, would allow the Blues to join the last four.

And it will logically be with the Ludovic Fabregas-Karl Konan duo in defense, who had obviously missed them so much two days ago.

Both were absent during the Icelandic rout (29-21) on Saturday: flu-like symptoms for the first and a positive test for Covid-19 for the second.

But the tricolor defensive pair shone for their return.

Like Karl Konan, who was in solitary confinement for six days, but who was disgusted many times by the Montenegrin attack.

"It's the release of a wild beast!" Savored the main interested party after the meeting.

"We are locked up for 7 days so once we have permission to go out we just want to get back on the pitch, with our fangs, and smash everything."

"Smash everything" is a bit of what the Aix defender did in the heart of a meeting which was not always perfect in the first period for the Blues.

Konan and "Kara" size patterns

For nearly seven minutes in the second quarter of an hour, the Blues were silent, falling on the impressive Montenegrin goalkeeper Nebojsa Simic (12 saves), and multiplying frustrating loss of balls.

Frenchman Karl Konan in defensive position on Montenegrin Radojica Cepic in their match in Budapest, January 24, 2022 Attila KISBENEDEK AFP

Vincent Gérard's red card in the 17th minute at 11-9 for France could even have changed the game.

Fortunately, his absence put the spotlight on Wesley Pardin, who was quickly decisive, with a spectacular one-on-one save in the 20th minute, when the Montenegrins had a ball to come back to 11-11.

"There is no better way to enter a match. It gave me 100% confidence", analyzed Pardin after his meeting, aware of being "there to answer" when Gérard is not there.

And he did it in the best possible way, with 10 saves.

The French defensive contribution, combined with the excellent meeting of Nikola Karabatic, sometimes in the pass, sometimes in the mark (4/6) and named best player, finally allowed the Blues to leave with a four-goal advantage in the break (12-16).

Erick Mathé, who replaces coach Guillaume Gille, positive for Covid-19, subsequently rotated with a view to the match against Denmark, nevertheless leaving boss Konan behind, the eternal "Kara" in front and counting on the flashes of Dika Mem (7/10) and the good entry of Benoit Kounkoud.

Destitute against Iceland, the Blues were able to regain their level against a Montenegro certainly inferior, but which had nothing to lose.

From now on, it is an even greater obstacle which stands on Wednesday, facing the Danish favorite, double world champion in title.

Nikola Karabatic fires a shot against Montenegro during the success of the Blues at the Euro in Budapest, January 24, 2022 Attila KISBENEDEK AFP

The Icelandic defeat in the middle of the afternoon against Croatia (23-22) changed things a bit for the French.

While an Icelandic success would have required a victory with a seven-goal difference, now a draw or a victory will be enough on Wednesday against Denmark (8:30 p.m.).

They could even be qualified before going on the field if Iceland did not beat Montenegro a little earlier (3:30 p.m.).

But as Konan said, Denmark will taste like an "early final".

© 2022 AFP