Strong entry into contention for the Blues in the 2024 European handball championship. This Wednesday, the French team largely won against North Macedonia (39-29) in Düsseldorf. Next match Sunday against Switzerland.
8:05 p.m. – End of live!
Thank you everyone for following the debut of the France team at Euro 2024 handball. See you on Sunday L’Internaute.com for the Blues’ next match against Switzerland at 6:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. – Match summary
Solid start! Opposed to North Macedonia, the French team largely won (39-29) against the most affordable team in the group. After a complicated start to the match where the two teams exchanged blows and goals, the Macedonians got off to the best start by leading by two goals after a quarter of an hour of play, pushing Guillaume Gille to call a timeout. But the tricolor steamroller set in motion and ultimately never stopped. The Blues regained the lead before the twentieth minute and never let it go again where they led by four goals at the break (17-13). Around a burning Hugo Descat (7 goals at 100%), Dika Mem and her partners left Düsseldorf with a solid victory after playing in a setting full of 53,000 spectators. In the second period, the Macedonians lost numerous balls, benefiting French wingers Dylan Nahi and Benoît Kounkoud in particular. In the second act, the coach made changes and in particular at the goalkeeper position where Charles Bolzinger came into play. Finally, the French team approached the mark of forty goals while pushing North Macedonia to ten goals ( 39-29). Next match against Switzerland this Sunday at 6:00 p.m. for the Blues who will try to take a big step towards the main round.
7:55 p.m. – Next match Sunday
After a serious debut today against North Macedonia, the France team will be back this Sunday when the Blues will face Switzerland.
19:50 – Fabregas “Important to be there”
Author of his 299th goal this evening with the tricolor jersey against North Macedonia, Ludovic Fabregas returned to the microphone of BeIN Sports on his satisfaction at playing in a major competition: “It’s important to be here in the blue jersey and it “It’s a huge chance to play in a new competition.”
19:45 – Gille: “A good tournament entry match”
Asked by our colleagues from BeIN Sports about the scenario of the meeting, Guillaume Gille was keen to emphasize the good use of his squad: “It was a good tournament entry match against a team which gave us a hard time. tough. We dictated the good and the bad moments with waste in the first half. We made the difference with our rotations. It’s satisfying to have made everyone play without being worried.”
19:40 – Kounkoud: “Proud to be here”
Recalled to Guillaume Gille’s group after Yanis Lenne’s injury, Benoît Kounkoud returned to his selection for the Euro: “When Guillaume Gille called me, my bags were already ready. I was ready, I wanted to to be there. I’m very happy and I’m going to take advantage of this to give everything.”
19:35 – Descat: “We retain the victory”
At the microphone of BeIN Sports, Hugo Descat returned to the debut of the Blues in this Euro 2024: “It was important to win. We know that the first matches in the competitions are very delicate. We have four days to prepare Switzerland. What we remember this evening is victory.”
19:30 – Descat man of the match
Author of seven goals and top scorer this evening, Hugo Descat received the man of the match trophy for his performance against North Macedonia.
19:24 – The Blues score ten goals against North Macedonia (39-29)!
Solid performance from the Blues for their entry into the competition who won by ten goals (39-29) against North Macedonia this Wednesday.
19:21 – Last Macedonian timeout (38-29, 59th)
While the match is over where the Blues will win, Kentin Mahé scored a new goal before Kiril Lazarov takes his last time out. There are fifteen seconds left to go.
19:20 – Mitev’s praline (36-29, 59th)
On a seven-meter throw, the Macedonian handball hopeful deceives Charles Bolzinger.
19:18 – Nahi tears up (36-27, 57th)
After a strike on the post, the ball returned to the area before Dylan Nahi lunged to push the ball. Melvyn Richardson recovers it and passes it to his winger who deceives Mitrevski with a roucoulette-lob.
19:16 – Second goal for Mahé (35-26, 55th)
After a strong goal from Prandi, Mahé scored his second goal of the evening to give the Blues a nine-goal lead from now on.
19:15 – New goal from Peshevski (33-26, 54th)
Seven goals now for Zharko Peshevski after a nice pass into the heart of Kuzmanovski’s French defense.
19:14 – Richardson comes up against Mitrevski (32-25, 53rd)
After continuing his run almost to the left wing, Melvyn Richardson shoots but it is subtly stopped by Mitrevski.
19:12 – First shot and first goal for Mahé (32-25, 52nd)
Gag goal for Kentin Mahé! After an interception, the scrum half tries his luck in the empty goal and the ball rolls from half of the field to the Macedonian cage.
19:11 – Peshevski lines up the goals (31-25, 50th)
While the Macedonians bring out the goalkeeper to be in numerical superiority in the offensive phases, Peshevski is found several times by his rear. Five goals for the Macedonian pivot this evening.
19:09 – Kounkoud as second pivot (30-23, 48th)
The goals keep coming at the Merkur-Spiel Arena in Düsseldorf. Dylan Nahi scored another powerful goal after a recovery in the left corner before being followed by Benoît Kounkoud, found outside the area in the pivot zone. In the meantime, Peshevski had reduced the mark.
19:07 – Mem smashes the post (28-22, 45th)
Well shifted, Dika Mem rushes from nine meters and tries his luck but the right-back finds Mitrevski’s right post.
19:06 – Peshevski responds to Nahi (28-21, 45th)
After a goal on his wing from Dylan Nahi, Peshevski is superbly served before he easily adjusts Bolzinger.
19:03 – The Blues take off (27-19, 43rd)
The Macedonians are marking time in attack where they are increasing the number of ball losses. In defense, it’s not much better where the Blues are now eight goals ahead after achieving Nikola Karabatic, Dika Mem and Nicolas Tournat. Kiril Lazarov does not hesitate and calls a second timeout.
19:03 – Peshevski vs Fabregas, duel of titans (27-20, 44th)
Pivotal duel on the floor where Peshevski was defended regularly by Ludovic Fabregas. On the next possession, Lazarevski found the fault.
7:00 p.m. – The 200-goal mark for Tournat (24-18, 40th)
On a chabala, Nicolas Tournat deceives Mitrevski and scores his 200th goal in the Blues jersey.
18:59 – Support zone from Nahi (23-18, 39th)
New counterattack for Dylan Nahi who fakes the shot twice before unleashing his right arm. The winger’s goal is finally canceled after a support in the zone. Just after, Mitev reduced the gap.
18:57 – What a save from Bolzinger (22-17, 37th)
On the first Macedonian throw from seven meters after a zone defense Charles Bolzinger extends his right leg in the air to stop Kuzmanovski’s attempt.