With players scattered and a Ukrainian federation deprived of funds, the match almost did not play out.

But the French handball federation took charge of the trip (about 30,000 euros).

It remains to be seen whether the Ukrainians will have enough momentum to worry the players of Olivier Krumbholz, who have already qualified for the European Championship in November.

"It's very difficult to have your head fully in the competition," admits coach Vitaly Andronov.

"The girls are very affected by the war, they are very worried about their relatives who remained in Ukraine."

Like the team doctor, Andronov has received special permission to leave Ukraine and will need to return soon.

The players of the selection, on the other hand, evolve mainly abroad, even if a dozen play in Lviv, in the west of Ukraine.

Most of them have found refuge in the Czech Republic.

"We are athletes first and foremost. We are used to never having enough time to prepare," says captain Iryna Glibko, who plays in Romania.

"The postponement of the two matches against the Czech Republic in March did not help us. It's a little harder to understand each other, to remember what we had prepared before," she admits.

"But we have no choice but to fight," she adds.

"I am happy to be here with my team, to defend Ukraine and our flag, and to say that we are proud of our soldiers, of our country and of ourselves".

"No Gift"

For their return to competition on Wednesday, the Ukrainians lost against Croatia (26-19), a "home" match disputed in Graz in the south-east of Austria, thanks to the logistical and financial support of the federation. Austrian.

Bleues coach Olivier Krumbholz during the match against Denmark at the World Cup in Granollers, December 17, 2021 Josep LAGO AFP / Archives

A setback that complicates their task, in the race for the group's second ticket for Euro-2022.

But everything is still possible: if Croatia holds the rope with 4 points, Ukraine and the Czech Republic, both 2 points away, have yet to play their two direct confrontations, initially scheduled for early March.

"Like all the people at the moment in Ukraine, we are not going to let go," assures Andronov.

"The Czech Republic beat France well on Wednesday, we too believe in miracles".

"We won't give them any gifts," Krumbholz promised.

"We fought for this match to exist (...). What we want now is a good handball match, for them to show what they are capable of doing".

In the first leg in October, the Blues, Olympic champions, vice-champions of Europe in 2020 and of the world in 2021, had to scrap to win 28-25 in Sumy, in eastern Ukraine.

But that was before February 24 and the Russian invasion.

“We hope that individually they are not in too much pain, suffering and worry, so that they can still play and play handball well,” explained Krumbholz.

"We have lived with the France team in recent years a lot of intense matches with emotions but that of (Saturday) will necessarily be special", added Estelle Nze Minko, interim captain of the France team in the absence of Coralie Lassource, tested positive for Covid-19.

The joy of the players of the French team after their victory over Denmark in Granollers, December 17, 2021 Josep LAGO AFP / Archives

Sign of this emotion, several Ukrainian players could not help but shed a tear when a small orchestra played the Ukrainian anthem on Friday at the town hall of Le Havre, where the mayor Edouard Philippe received the two teams.

In this context, for once, "whichever team wins, I will be happy", assured the former Prime Minister.

© 2022 AFP