After six victories and a flawless run in this World Cup, the France team is entering with full confidence and determination its quarter-final against Sweden. A formidable adversary.
The eyes are intense, filled with this desire which drives great conquests and betrays the excitement of the stake. The group stages are finally over and the world championship enters its most exciting phase when fates are written. One match, sixty minutes and nothing more to continue dreaming of the title or mulling over your disappointment. The time has passed for calculations. This is good, this team of France is hardly focused on the exercise.
Since the start of the competition, she has advanced without asking any questions, lugging her confidence and certainties on the field and bones her opponents with the same method on the momentum of her golden Olympic summer. The latest example, the significant victory against Russia in a style that had not yet been seen in Spain. Leaning on its defensive base, the Blue this time shone in attack, without however denying itself behind. A full match which reflects a rise in power. “I hope we will play completely liberated, that we will have fun”, declares Olivier Krumbholz who saw how much his team had struggled to enter these meetings. The Russian test reassured him with a more serene and quick start. Because any ignition delay could prove to be compromising this evening.
“For the moment, we have always passed in front”
Indeed, the right to make mistakes is no longer allowed and Sweden is a particularly thorny opponent. In the shadow of the insatiable Norwegians and Danes, the Swedes have asserted themselves for a few years without succeeding in fulfilling the promises of a compact and talented collective. “We know that we play a very good team. It’s always, always very difficult to play Sweden, which has been biding its time for years but we will be there with the same commitment, the same serenity. We know the team well. , we play them almost at every competition. These are matches that are held and ended in the last ten minutes. For now, we have always been ahead “, indicates the French coach. In 2017 at the Worlds and last summer at the Olympic Games, the French had indeed destroyed Swedish hopes, dominating them each time in the semi-finals before going on to win the competition.
An electric quarter
What will happen at the stage leading up to the quarter-finals? One thing is certain the debates promise to be bitter and heated between two teams which resemble each other by their defensive aggressiveness and their taste for the transition. On the French side, the threat is clearly identified between Hagman who never stops scoring on the wing and the “poison” Jamina Roberts. “One of the keys will be to limit her influence (…) Faced with such a player, you need a plan A and a plan B”, enlightens Béatrice Edwige, captain of the blue defense. In the goal, Ryde and Bundsen also raised the tone during this World Cup and will cause problems for Foppa and the Habs. “It promises to be electric like at the Games. The two matches we played against them were difficult. It’s a team with full confidence, especially after this draw against Norway which has revived them. They like to play fast, that It’s also overflowing a lot. It’s very strong physically. It impacts. Everything we like. We are used to Scandinavian teams. We know that we have a formidable opponent against us “, saliva Allison Pineau however. This France team is no longer afraid of heights. On the contrary, she delights in it and finds in these perilous moments this adrenaline which sublimates her and stirs the flame which burns in their eyes and asks only to ignite at the first spark.
The quarter-final between France and Sweden will start at 8:30 p.m. It will take place, as since the start of the competition for the Blues, at the Palau d’Esports de Granollers, in the suburbs of Barcelona.
The quarter-final between France and Sweden will be broadcast on beIN Sports 1. the quatarie channel broadcasts the entire handball world championship. For the second time since the start of the competition, after France – Slovenia in the first round, the French women’s match will be accessible in clear this time on TFX.
You will be able to watch the quarter-final France – Sweden streaming on the MyCanal platform as well as on MyTF1.
Olivier Krumbholz’s starting seven remains unchanged from the one that started against Russia. Laura Glauser will keep the tricolor cage. The back base will be composed by Estelle Nze Minko on the left, Grâce Zaadi in the middle half, and Laura Flippe on the right. On the wings, respectively on the left and on the right, we will find Coralie Lassource and Alicia Toublanc. Finally, Pauletta Foppa will occupy the pivotal position.
On the Swedish side, the rear base will be piloted by Carin Strömberg. the Swedish captain will be supported on her left by Jamina Roberts and on her right by Emma Lindkvist. Linn Blohm ofiecra at the pivot, when Nathalie Hangman and Elin Hansson will occupy the right wing and the left wing respectively. In the goal, Jessica Ryde will be the last Swedish bulwark.