This last match of the main round is for Nikola Karabatic and the Blues, "a mountain to climb", a "quarter-final" to play.

Six months after the final of the Tokyo Games, where the teammates of "Kara" had won their third Olympic gold medal (25-23) against their eternal Scandinavian rival (61 confrontations since the beginning of the 2000s), the Blues find Denmark, double world champion in title, undefeated in this Euro, and huge favorite in Hungary.

The Danes, in great shape and spared by the covid, have already qualified for the semi-finals, after their crushing success against the Netherlands on Monday (35-23).

France, for its part, first had to regain confidence against Montenegro (36-27) after the Icelandic fiasco two days earlier (29-21) before thinking about it.

The French after their victory over Montenegro at the Handball Euro on January 24, 2022 in Budapest Attila KISBENEDEK AFP / Archives

In the best of scenarios, a poor performance by Iceland, already beaten by Croatia on Monday (23-22), against these same Montenegrins (3:30 p.m.) could even qualify the Blues before kick-off.

But otherwise you can't lose.

"We already had a flower yesterday, not sure if we have a second," added Dika Mem by videoconference on Tuesday.

And it's not the Danish mountain that will make them one.

- "Put France on the plane..." -

"We know how complicated it is to beat France when we arrive in the final weekend. So if we can put them on the plane now, it would be an advantage for us," defender Henrik Mollgard admitted on Monday. .

"I think that after the final of the Olympic Games, they don't want to give a gift and that's normal. I don't expect anything different from them," retorted Nikola Karabatic, for whom the Denmark is "the team that plays the best in this competition".

Nikola Karabatic against Montenegro at the Handball Euro in Budapest on January 24, 2022 Attila KISBENEDEK AFP / Archives

Indeed, the Danish giants are all there.

Third top scorer (39 goals), Karabatic's partner at Paris SG Mikkel Hansen is still monstrous in this Euro, as is right-back Mathias Gidsel, 22 and author of an impressive 35/36 in shooting from the start.

On the blue side, the presence of Kentin Mahé, in isolation since Saturday for covid, remains uncertain, while Dylan Nahi, ill on Tuesday, is better.

Coach Guillaume Gille, positive last Friday, hopes to be back.

- "A final before the hour" -

It remains to be seen whether his Danish counterpart Nikolaj Jacobsen will take the risk of rotating his squad for the semi-final on Saturday.

"What the Danes are going to do, we don't care", launches frankly Valentin Porte, who also knows that "their rotation can beat everyone".

To stop them, the Blues will therefore above all have to calm their offensive enthusiasm.

They can count on the defensive hinge Ludovic Fabregas-Karl Konan, fantastic against Montenegro, while the two players were absent against Iceland.

One for flu symptoms, the other for covid.

Karl Konan (left) and Ludovic Fabregas against Montenegro at the Handball Euro on January 24, 2022 in Budapest Attila KISBENEDEK AFP / Archives

“They came back and that changed everything,” admitted goalkeeper Wesley Pardin after the game, who noticed “more stability and more confidence” in defense.

And Karl Konan, he is well aware that the Danes "have a huge track record".

"But frankly when I get on the field, I play and I don't fixate +", adds the defender who is playing his first international tournament in Blue.

"You have to be there for this moment of change, and that requires everyone to have their best handball", warns Guillaume Gille.

Captain Valentin Porte does not worry about his pre-match speech.

"I think I won't be the only one to speak because we will all be fired up. And for once, I am convinced that there will be a need to say nothing".

Say nothing, just act.

© 2022 AFP