The Blues, who already had their ticket for the main round before the match, will indeed approach it with a nest egg of four points, two more than the Slovenians.

Two successes in the upcoming matches, starting on Wednesday, against Spain, Montenegro and Iran, should be enough to reach the quarter-finals.

The reigning Olympic champions therefore offered themselves a precious joker by finishing at the top of their pool in the first round, after a very solid match against the Slovenians which confirmed the victories against Poland (26-24) and Saudi Arabia (41-23).

This last meeting against Slovenia, which had showered Poland (32-23) in front of its public, represented a test, and the Blues passed it with flying colors.

Even deprived of Dika Mem, their right back and key man, injured in the abdominals.

The FC Barcelona player, spared against the Saudis without the coaching specifying that he was injured, was replaced by Nedim Remili, who slipped from the position of center half successfully (7 goals out of 8 attempts).

In general, the entire rear base delivered a complete performance: Kentin Mahé (7/12) animated well and scored a few goals which relieved his team.

Including two to give him a six-point lead fifteen minutes from the end (28-22).

The veteran Nikola Karabatic showed him that he was still in good shape at 38, notably author of a subtle lob (37th, 22-16), before experiencing a little more waste (4/8 in the end).

His brother Luka, the captain, entered the competition after being spared, with a sore back, during the first two meetings.

Pivot Nicolas Tournat attacking Slovenia in Group B of the World Handball Championship in Katowice, January 16, 2023 © JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP

With their centerpiece in defense, the Blues contained the Slovenes well, whose delay at the break (14-16) could have been greater without the five French temporary exclusions.

Including two for Remili, and two in the last five minutes (Remili and Richardson).

Behind the tricolor wall, Vincent Gérard held the shop (11 saves) after having launched his two periods in the same way: by a penalty stopped (3rd and 32nd).

France will leave for Krakow on Tuesday with a good dose of confidence.

© 2023 AFP