The France team begins the main round of the Worlds against Poland, this Wednesday in Spain.
Among the 18 players, 12 play in France, including 5 in Brest.
In recent years, the championship has become homogenized and French clubs are performing in Europe.
Two hours by bus to reach Saint-Brieuc (Côtes-d'Armor) and play a friendly match this Wednesday evening against Le Havre, in the most complete anonymity in the middle of the handball Worlds. The Brestoises had more exciting evenings. Notably last May, when the BBH achieved the monumental feat of removing the all-powerful Romanians from Gyor, before failing in the Champions League final against the Norwegians from Kristiansand. Typically French, you might say. Certainly. But, for the first time, a club from France reached this stage of the competition.
Add to that the victory of Nantes in the EHF Cup, the small European Cup, and you have a historic season for the French clubs on the Old Continent.
The only thing missing would be a Blue title at the World Championships, four months after the Olympic coronation, to finish 2021 in style.
Put away the balloons, wash the chasubles, we couldn't do better.
"There are such foundations in the French hand, that it is an epiphenomenon to fail, greet Thierry Vincent, coach of Celles-sur-Belle, 12th in the first division.
At each competition, we release 3-4 new players of international level.
The selection benefits from the good work done in the championship clubs.
"
The means put into the training
Of the 18 players present at the World Cup, 12 play in the Butagaz Energie League, that's its name, including 5 in Brest. “We are reaping the benefits today, but it's a job that has been launched for several years,” says Nina Kanto, the former pivot with 214 selections. First, training: "We have a unique model in France, with the hope centers, which do a lot of work," says Vincent. We have put in a lot of resources. "In the clubs, this results in players who arrive with" a better technical background, a real hand culture, acquired thanks to the media coverage, adds Kanto. A player like Pauleta Foppa (20), holder in the selection, is revealing of all this. "
🙌 Congratulations to @ pauletta_sorea🇫🇷 (@BBH_Officiel) who has (already) passed the milestone of 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ goals with @FRAHandball 😄
👀 only 20 years old ✨
📸 @iconsport_fr # handball # LigueButagazEnergie pic.twitter.com/855tBn2Itd
- LBE_Officiel (@LBE_Officiel) November 29, 2021
We can also talk about Lucie Granier (22 years old), Méline Nocandy (23 years old) or the very last called, Orlane Ahanda (23 years old).
“We have such potential that we could make two teams from France which each reach at least the quarter-finals of a World Cup, imagines Thierry Vincent.
Today, the French championship has nothing to envy to the Hungarian or Romanian championship.
"If Brest and Metz remain the flagship clubs, newbies also want to eat Gucci, like Bourg-de-Péage or Paris 92. The latter have also succeeded in exfiltrating Nocandy from Moselle.
An attractive championship
“In recent years, the level has risen, the clubs have been structured, have become more professional,” indicates the former international Isabelle Wendling.
The matches are of high quality, the players are in better conditions, they no longer have the same practice as they were five or six years ago.
The championship is really attractive.
“And everything followed at the economic level.
A club like Celles-sur-Belle has the same budget today (the last in the championship) as that of Toulon, champion of France eleven years ago: 950,000 euros.
And, if one day you need someone to sell a product, don't hesitate to call Thierry Vincent, the championship's best possible ambassador, who outlines the reasons why France has become the place to be:
Economic stability: “If you are injured or pregnant, you continue to be paid with Social Security.
If you get injured in Romania, thank you and goodbye.
"
Existing in Europe: “French and foreign players have realized that we can win in Europe with a French team, it's attractive.
"
The power of the Paris Olympics: “Playing in the country and even the city that hosts the Olympic Games, it makes you think.
"
The image of Les Bleues: “The results of the France team are pushing people to invest.
"
A "golden generation"
So why, again, some French players evolve abroad, when we have the best championship in the world? "Before, we could talk about money, but this is no longer even the case, because clubs like Brest equal the salary proposals", thinks the coach of Celles-sur-Belle knows. "A club like Gyor [where Glauser and Nze Minko play] is always very attractive, they have won the Champions League three times, they are above it," admits Wendling.
“The key players of the France team play abroad [Zaadi and Edwige in Rostov, Pineau in Ljubjana], which allows them to mature, to benefit from another hand culture, other skills , concludes Nina Kanto.
When you stack all that up, with the players in our championship, it makes a very strong team, with all the positions doubled, whereas in my time, there were one or two weak positions.
We have a golden generation.
Like the color of the metal we'll be looking for on December 19, of course.
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