To access the main round of the Euro handball in Hungary, the Blues had the choice between a draw or a defeat by 6 goals.

And they chose… victory!

The French handball team, irresistible against Serbia (29-25), finished first in their group, with three wins in three games.

Serbia, with two defeats, is eliminated at the expense of Croatia, which beat Ukraine earlier.

The French therefore preferred not to make any calculations and validate their ticket for the main round in a beautiful way against Serbs certainly diminished by the cases of Covid-19 and the efforts left on Saturday evening against the Croats (defeat 23-20).

Impressive mastery, the Blues find themselves in a good position three days from tackling the rest of the competition, since first place in Group C gives them two points which they will keep for the main round.

“The contract has been fulfilled”

“That was the deal, leaving with two points. The contract has been completed,” said captain Valentin Porte. Admittedly, the Pick Arena resonated much more for Serbia at the start of the match, the city of Szeged being on its border, but it did not last, as Toni Gerona's men were almost powerless against a French team that They had yet beaten in qualifying for this same Euro.

Because to calm the atmosphere, there was first Vincent Gérard, once again monstrous in his cages (10 stops / 16 in the first period!).

The blue defense also succeeded once again in muzzling their evening opponent, conceding only seven goals in the first period (16-7), a record since the start of the competition.

"When you're a defender, seeing that is as if an attacker had scored, it's really that feeling," savored Karl Konan after the match.

The demonstration of Kentin Mahé

And then in front, there was another show. With Kentin Mahé as the main actor, intractable in front of his club teammate, Veszprem goalkeeper Vladimir Cupara, for whom he scored six goals. The player also shone with his teammates, like this sublime action concluded by Yanis Lenne after an equally superb pass from Hugo Descat in the first period. Dika Mem (5 goals) and Yannis Lenne (3) also participated in the celebration, helping to let the Serbian songs die out to let a Marseillaise resonate.

With a gap of nine goals at the break, Valentin Porte's teammates let Bodgan Radivojevic's partners (7 goals) come back, without ever being really worried, with Wesley Pardin who also watched over the grain.

And after the Marseillaise, it was a "Allez les Bleus" that the supporters sang in the last minutes of an almost perfect evening on the road to Budapest.

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  • Hungary

  • French Handball team

  • Europe championship

  • Handball

  • Sport

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