At the end of an intense match, disputed in a hostile atmosphere, the French are essential entry against Croatia and begin in the best way their Euro (27-22).
22:22 – “We have mastered the rhythm”
“We managed to get into this game with full force. In the first half, we had to finish more than two goals ahead, we missed a few shots and we were punished behind. But what is satisfying is is that we were always in front because we mastered the rhythm of the match, we weren’t worried much and defended well”, appreciated Vincent Gérard, author of a big match in his cage.
22:19 – “A game not easy to play”
“We started our competition well. It was not an easy match to play, very tough in defence. I think there were some good things tonight. We followed our plan until the end”, reacted Dika Mem, designated man of the match with 6 goals on his counter.
22:15 – “Primordial” to win
“In a formula like that, where the first two pass, winning this first match was essential. The Euro in 2020, we lose the first match against Portugal and we put ourselves in a difficult situation. There, we beat Croatia and We’re getting into the best of our minds. Now we have two games to win.”, projects Nikola Karabatic.
22:13 – “A real satisfaction”
“A real satisfaction because we know that the start of competitions are always very difficult, even more on a Euro like that with the Covid, the truncated preparation. We are very happy, this evening, to have beaten Croatia which offered a difficult match. We started very well, then we made the match complicated. They came back because we missed shots, lost balls. We gave them easy goals. Otherwise, in the second half, as throughout the match, we defended very well and then we played intelligently in attack. At the end, it was a very controlled match and for the start of the competition, it was very good.”, analyzed with lucidity Nikola Karabatic, satisfied with this first victory of his people.
22:12 – France continues
France has a second victory in a row against Croatia. This had not happened to him since Euros 2014 and 2016.
22:09 – Unheard of for 20 years
You have to go back twenty years to find traces of a defeat for Croatia in their first match in a European championship. The Croats had not made the weight against Yugoslavia and had been swept away (22-34).
22:04 – France calms Croatia
After an intense and tense match against a gripping Croatia, the France team won its first match in this Euro (27-22). A precious success which took shape in the wake of a first quarter of an hour of high quality and which bears the seal of a rough and effective defense in the image of Gérard, imperial in his goal, and Konan, amazing for its first major international competition. Thanks to this victory, France opens the way to the main round.
22:02 – Croats are still breathing
The French play at being scared. After a Cupic penalty goal, a new lost ball allows the Croats to come back to 3 goals, 2 minutes from the end of the match. The match is not over (25-22).
22:01 – Door in the empty goal
The Croats threw their last forces into battle and rushed to attack. The ball was recovered by the Blues and Porte took advantage of the empty goal to send the ball in and give the Blues a five-bust lead less than five minutes from the end of the match (25-20).
21:58 – Karabatic’s first goal
For his 64th match in a Euro, Nikola Karabatic signs his first goal of the evening. The 37-year-old defender faked the pass and opened his way to the goal to finally beat Pesic (24-20).
21:57 – Pesic in his works
Pesic continues his big game in the Croatian cage by signing his 7th save on an attempt near Karabatic. Gille takes a time-out behind.
21:55 – Susnja gets a penalty
Excellent offensive sequence of the Croats. At the trigger, Lucin passes his arm and slides behind Susnja who has come to bring the surplus in second pivot. His shot is stopped by an explosive Gérard but he gets a penalty, converted by the imperturbable Cupic, against Pardin 23-20).
21:53 – Konan on the counter
For his first match in a Euro championship, his first major competition with the France team, Konan achieved a leading performance. In his role as a pillar of defense, he stands out with an extension counter on Lucin.
21:52 – Trapped Martinovic
Martinovic gets tricked by the French defense. Believing an opening, the young Croat arms too early and sees the door close. In the angle left, Gérard opposes his right hand and allows the Blues to keep their four-goal lead (23-19).
21:49 – Kounkound mystifies Pesic
Gérard takes advantage of the excellent work of his teammates in defense to make a new save against the four Croats. The counter is then concluded by Kounkoud who breaks his wrist to score against Pesic (23-19).