Spared due to back pain during the first two meetings, the youngest of the Karabatic brothers (34 years old, 134 caps) enjoyed these first minutes played in the competition before facing Montenegro on Wednesday (6:00 p.m.) in Krakow to start the main tower.

“It was a complicated week but I was with my friends” commented Luka Karabatic, thus highlighting the group.

It is precisely by his propensity, according to coach Guillaume Gille, to put the collective before the individual that he was chosen to take the captaincy in October, when the withdrawal of Valentin Porte was formalized.

Porte, appointed in November 2021 to replace Mickaël Guigou, after a difficult Euro-2022 on a personal level, felt "no longer able to fulfill the function of captain", preferring to become again "a player in the service of the France team. ".

"He is a captain of commitment, who on the ground is ready for anything for the team, always at the service of the group, with a rare capacity for commitment for the project" estimates Gille about Luka Karabatic.

"By his presence at the heart of our defense, he is one of our two pillars (with Ludovic Fabregas). In attack, we also find him a lot. He is a complete player with a remarkable state of mind" adds the coach.

Returning to handball at 19 after a good tennis career among young people (he was ranked -4/6), the 2.02m pivot was first used exclusively in defense, a worthy successor to Didier Dinart, the specialist of the "Experts" sector.

"The quiet force"

French handball internationals Luka Karabatic and Nikola Karabatic before the L1 football match between PSG and SCO Angers at the Parc des Princes in Paris on October 15, 2021 © FRANCK FIFE / AFP / Archives

After having experienced his first international cap in 2011, Nikola's younger brother really made a name for himself in Blue during the title of European champion in 2014.

Two world titles (2015 and 2017) and Olympic gold (2021) will follow, before promotion to the rank of captain, who is already at Paris SG.

"I've been there for quite a while. When I was told about this role, it wasn't a problem for me because I don't mind being put forward, just as I don't mind not not be. It's still the most important French team. It's an honor and a great pride" underlines Luka Karabatic.

Words posed and borrowed from humility that resonate with those of Nedim Remili, his current partner in the France team and former at PSG.

"In a group with a lot of great players and great personalities, it's the quiet strength, the captain of the example, who never has one word higher than the other, who isn't there to do hubbub like me (laughs). He always gives his all in everything "describes the right back or center half.

One of these "great players" who knows him well, his brother Nikola (38), is "happy for this individual distinction which rewards his work, his involvement, his leadership".

But, he mischievously slipped to AFP before the World Cup: "I still remain the eldest of the two, so even if he's my captain and I listen to him, he listens to me too."

© 2023 AFP