Lacrabère and the company got away with it -

Henning Bagger / AP / SIPA

Why keep it simple when you can give yourself an adrenaline rush at the end of the meeting?

The blue hand won their first match of the main round of Euro 2020 against Spain (26-25) and are in a good position to aim for a place in the semi-finals.

But how hard this end of the game was!

After having scored up to seven goals early in the second period (19-12, 41st), the Blues saw Spain return to a goal at the entrance of the last ten minutes (21-20) and have trembled to the end.

"We played well for 40 minutes then we derailed [...] they are not vice-world champions for nothing" O. Krumbholz #FRAESP pic.twitter.com/FEIihVtj8u

- Esprit Handball Caisse d'Epargne (@EspritHandball) December 10, 2020

“It wasn't easy, we got caught up at the end.

The more it goes, the more difficult it will be.

It's good to have taken both points, ”commented center-half Méline Nocandy.

“We didn't leave a point, that's the main thing.

We had a real slump, what I regret is the relaxation.

When you keep the score, you must not let your opponent return, otherwise it creates stress, ”said the coach of the France team, Olivier Krumbholz.

No right to the air hole against Russia

The scenario of the first period (16-10 at the break) against the Spanish, 2019 vice-world champions but weakened by the absence of their left-back Alexandrina Barbosa (knee injury), had allowed the technician to make a little turn its workforce in preparation for the shock against Russia, from Friday.

The heart of the second half, however, was much muddled, with several losses.

A booster shot, while the mechanics seemed extremely well in place for three games.

“In the first half, we were very good in defense.

In the second half, we let ourselves be crushed.

But what I remember is that we did not let go, ”said right-back Alexandra Lacrabère, voted best player of the game (5 goals on 7 shots), especially at the end of the game.

Amandine Leynaud's saves (eight) were once again extremely valuable in keeping the lead.

As in two of their last three official matches against the "Guerreras" (victories with a goal gap at the 2016 Olympics and Euro-2016), the French won with the smallest gap.

During the third meeting (World-2017), the two teams were neutralized.

"If tomorrow we have an air gap, it will not forgive," added Olivier Krumbholz, who also retains the game found at the end of the meeting to create solutions.

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