Europe 1 with AFP 8:37 p.m., March 8, 2023

The French handball team easily beat Poland this Wednesday evening (28-38) in a qualifying match for Euro 2024. This third success in as many matches brings the Blues a little closer to qualification.

They will face Poland again next Saturday in Aix-en-Provence.

The French handball team largely won in Poland on Wednesday (38-28) in the third qualifying match for Euro 2024 and almost validated its ticket for the competition.

With this third success in as many games, the Blues alone take the lead of their group ahead of their opponents of the day, whom they will meet on Saturday at home.

Five weeks after failing in the final to claim a seventh world title against Denmark, the French found themselves in Gdansk, where they had overcome Germany in the quarter-finals in January.

By widening the gap very quickly (4-1, 4th), the World Cup silver medalists ensured a quiet evening.

The Blues were never really worried by Poles who were too inoffensive, like these two minutes during which Luka Karabatic, excluded (11th), had to leave the field, but which the French crossed while dominating their opponents (1-0).

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An uninspired Poland

Counter-attacks led by Nedim Remili, distant and overpowering shots from Elohim Prandi, combinations finished on the wings by Dylan Nahi... The whole offensive panoply of the Tricolores went through it, like this pretty "kung-fu" initiated by Luka Karabatic and concluded in a beautiful way by Melvyn Richardson (17-9, 23rd).

Poland, already not really inspired in their sequences, came up against Vincent Gérard in good form, who repelled eight of the 19 opposing attempts in the first act (42%).

Faced with an opponent that France beat at home in early January at the opening of the World Cup (26-24), Dika Mem's teammates (six goals) dropped their foot after the break, leaving more space for the Poles, for the let go back to six goals (28-22, 45th).

Not enough to worry Dylan Nahi and his partners, who were able to heal their statistics sheet, with ten goals for the winger, who plays in Poland with his club, Kielce.

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Without Karabatic

Coach Guillaume Gille was deprived of Nikola Karabatic, victim of phlebitis and absent for at least three months, but also of Yannis Lenne (left wrist) and Hugo Descat, whose season is over due to a knee injury .

The three-time Olympic champions will find Poland, who finished the World Cup in a very disappointing 15th place, Saturday (9:10 p.m.) in Aix-en-Provence.

In case of victory, they will validate their ticket for the Euro organized from January 10 to 28, 2024 in Germany.