The French team arrived Thursday midday on Swedish soil after flying over the Baltic Sea from Gdansk (Poland), where it had dismissed Germany the night before (35-28).

Meanwhile, the Swedes dominated Egypt (26-22) in their capital, where they quietly await the French.

"It's the game when you are the host country, you have advantages. It is sure that it is not ideal in terms of rest days, even if we are not the most to be pitied," said Nikola Karabatic.

With good reason: the day before the shifts, it was France that was warm while the Germans were traveling, with one day less rest.

"Did it really show on the pitch? Not in the first half anyway. If we lose (against Sweden, editor's note), we will complain (about the difference in treatment), if we wins, it will be forgotten", thinks Ludovic Fabregas.

A victory, and the pivot and his teammates would be only one step away, against Denmark or Spain, from a seventh world crown, six years after the last (at home).

"Vengeful Spirit"

They would then have finally taken the measure of these Swedes against whom they came up against at this same stage during two of the last three competitions: at the World Cup-2021 (32-26) and at Euro-2022 (34-33).

France's right-back Dika Mem during the World Cup quarter-final against Germany in Gdansk, Poland, January 25, 2023 © JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP

"This negative experience has inevitably left its mark. Now, the contexts are completely different, it's complicated to refer to the past", underlines coach Guillaume Gille.

Just a year ago, the Scandinavians finally won this last title to finally succeed the golden generation, double world champion and quadruple European champion between 1990 and 2002.

The Blues took over the torch at the top of the world hand less than ten years later (four world titles, two European and three Olympic titles between 2008 and 2021).

Even if, precisely, the Olympic gold of Tokyo, a year and a half ago, was inserted between the two defeats against the Swedes, is it time to settle the accounts?

"We don't have any accounts to settle with anyone, it's a new competition. It's up to us to play our best game, we haven't yet shown our full potential in this competition", replies veteran Nikola Karabatic, who plays his tenth and last World Cup.

In the absence of accounts, can we speak of a revenge then?

"Even if the competitions are different, there will still be a spirit of revenge," thinks right-back Dika Mem.

"We have the opportunity to do something big. We are going to play for them, they are the ones who will have the pressure," he adds.

Sweden without its star

In this Tele 2 Arena, an indoor football stadium where some 20,000 Swedes (in hand configuration) will push behind their team.

Sweden playmaker Jim Gottfridsson is out after injury against Egypt in the quarter-finals of the World Handball Championship in Stockholm on January 25, 2023 © Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP

"It's also for these kinds of matches that we play handball, that we wear the jersey of the France team. We have the ambition to go further", Fabregas saliva.

Despite a left-back position, already featherless before the competition, which limps low: Thibaud Briet (hand) gave up against the Germans, Nikola Karabatic came out early, his left foot still painful, and Elohim Prandi played diminished (left ankle ).

Their possible participation will be decided "at the last moment" on Friday, according to Gille.

Sweden already knows that it will have to do without its playing master, Jim Gottfridsson, who dislocated his left index finger against Egypt and announced Thursday "throwing in the towel" for the end.

Some may see it as a harbinger in favor of the Blues.

He will spend Friday at the reality revealer.

© 2023 AFP