HANDBALL. France – Sweden: the Blues in the final! Summary of the game

23:30 – See you on Sunday

Thank you all for accompanying us to follow France’s victory against Sweden. Be there on Sunday for the final against Denmark.

23:25 – Hostility suits them so well, the match recap

It must be believed that France is never as strong as when it finds itself isolated, alone in the face of adversity with only its certainties and the intimate conviction that it can spoil the party of the host country. She had already proved it at the opening of these world championships but the Polish arena was not terrifying, not helped it is true by a limited national selection. Above all, She had proven it in her glorious past, failing by a small amount in Germany in 2007 in a semi-final that she should never have lost, and especially in 2009 in an incandescent final where she extinguished the volcano. Croatian in a duel that will go down in history. In 2011, too, the Experts swept away Sweden’s home dreams. So she knew how to go about it, how to apprehend the fervor of the yellow tide ready to surge in the wake of her heroes. Palicka’s first saves boded a bad omen but the Blues took it upon themselves to impose their implacable reality and the Swedish waves quickly broke on the tricolor wall erected in front of a Gerard who had become huge again in his cage.

Missed in the quarter-final against Germany, the French goalkeeper immediately reassured by intervening on the first two attempts of the locals. His way of entering his match and announcing the color. A great goalkeeper never goes through twice and above all knows how to be decisive when it counts. The future player from Kiel proved, if need be, that he belonged to this category and delivered a recital, at close range, on the wing or from long distance, even allowing himself a pastis (the fact of capture the opposing shot) on an attempt by Johansson, the only Swede to float in the storm (5/10). By itself, with its 12 stops, it will have been enough to disgust Scandinavians lost in the absence of their master to play Gottfridsson, victim of a dislocated finger in the previous round and package. On his own, well almost because his performance would have been nothing if his partners had not been in tune. Trusted by Gerard, they posed an insoluble equation to the local attack, tactically adapting to all situations. A united block granting only a few spaces, preventing counter-attacks and prohibiting fast play, yet the Swedish signature. Above all, Guillaume Gille’s men knew how to be unpredictable on the other side of the field, under the orchestration of Remili. The former Parisian demonstrated his immense progress, varying the game with accuracy, alternating taking initiatives with 4 goals including an uncrossed shot left hand in imbalance, and passes in particular to the pivot where Tournat and Fabregas sucked up all the balls to relieve many times their teammates. Like in the second half when the blue ship rocked and the Swedes came back to within two lengths. Little used, Lenne was just as valuable by his availability, his malice in coming in particular to slip into second pivot on a numerical inferiority and his efficiency (3/4).

Even without Nikola Karabatic and Thibaud Briet, nothing could shake the tricolor building and the efforts of the Swedish speaker to cheer up the yellow people were in vain. Sure of their strengths, serious and diligent as never since the start of the tournament, the Habs had made it easy in this first big test and faced with a team that had twice closed the doors of the final. in the face. Not this time. In hostile lands, France has found its garden. That of a spoilsport determined to organize his own. For that, it will be necessary to do battle with Denmark, double defending champion.

23:15 – Like in 2011

On Sunday, the French team will try to earn their seventh star against Denmark. A clash between Olympic champions and double world champions. If the two nations have dominated the international hand for several years, this is only the second time that they have faced each other in the World Cup final. In 2011, the French snatched the victory after extra time after a suffocating match (37-35 ap) and it was happening… in Sweden.

22:50 – Remili: “Solid from start to finish”

“Our greatest pride today is to have proven in this semi-final that we are a united and close-knit group, on and off the pitch. We were solid from start to finish and that gives this kind of result: beat Sweden at home”savored a Nedim Remili, more than satisfied with the face displayed by the Blues during this match mastered from start to finish.

10:42 p.m. – Gérard: “A victory that does not suffer any dispute”

“It was twice in a row that the Swedes beat us in the half. We managed to raise our heads and tell ourselves that each match had its story. We took the match by the right end and we knew how to manage our weak time where they come back to -2. We leave with a victory that does not suffer any challenge and it is a source of pride. We were able to make them doubt and push them out of their comfort zone “appreciated Vincent Gérard, author of a full semi-final with 12 saves.

22:35 – The rollercoaster

Thanks to its authoritative victory against Sweden, the French team will play in the final of the world championships. This is the eighth time that she has reached this stage of the competition with an eloquent record of six wins for one defeat. Beaten in 1993 for its first appearance at this level, it has since won all the others.

22:28 – France in the final!

It’s over, the Swedes have surrendered and the siren sounds. Ruthless in defense and carried by an imperial Gérard in his goal, the France team validates its ticket for the final of the world championships (31-26). The Blues never trembled in a semi-final controlled from start to finish and where they almost always raced in the lead.

22:27 – Lenne in the skylight (31-26)

Lenne is shifted to the right wing and cleans the opposite skylight with a clear shot. The final can no longer escape the Blues.

22:26 – The Blues save time (30-26)

Less than two minutes from the end of the match, the French are dragging the rise of the ball. The Swedes play high and cause the loss of the ball.

22:25 – The post with Gérard (30-25)

Claar manages to cross the French curtain and appears alone against Gérard. His shot beats the tricolor goalkeeper but comes to die on the right post. The Swedish center half is disappointed.

22:23 – Gerard until sickness (30-25)

Johnasson sails on the back base and comes impaled in the defense of Karabatic. Despite everything, he triggers a crossfire that Gérard deflects with his fingertips.

22:22 – Wanne maintains hope (30-25)

Despite the numerical inferiority, Wanne is found on the left wing and a rebound shot surprises Gérard at the near post.

22:21 – Ruthless turn (30-24)

Tournat relies on his defender who cannot challenge him with his feet in the area. He bypasses it on the right and beats the Swedish goalkeeper without qualms. Six goals ahead for the Blues 6 minutes from the end of the match.

22:19 – Carlsbogard expelled!

After video arbitration, the referees of the semi-final believe that Carlsbogard swung Prandi, while Franças was in the air. The red card is out! He won’t come back.

22:18 – Gerard is impassable (29-24)

In the wake of a delicious lob from Fabregas, once again free near the area, Gérard made his 12th parade of the evening on a shot from the axis of Lagergren.