French and Egyptians will be opposed again only six months after their confrontation during the group stage of the Paris Olympic Games.
The French handball team joined Zagreb on Sunday, where Egypt is waiting for Egypt on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, which it is sure of its forces after two first -sloping rounds perfectly negotiated. The Blues left Varazdin at midday for a short trip of some 90 kilometers to the south and the Croatian capital, where their next opponent has taken up residence since the start of the competition.
The Egyptians, regular candidates for the last square of international competitions in recent years, have been expected to take second place in group IV. But with much more difficulties than expected against the modest CAP-Vert (31-24). “It will be a physical match, it is a team that defends hard, they are quite strong” had thrown himself on Saturday evening the right back of the Blues, Dika Mem.
“It promises to be a quarter -perilous final. But we draw our route, we are not afraid of anyone and we are ready to play all the teams ” had said Luka Karabatic said. THE “Pharaohs” trained by the Spaniard Juan Carlos Pastor, 2005 world champion at the head of the «Roja»and led by the rear right of Paris Saint-Germain Yahia Omar, are however deprived for this World Cup of Yahia Elderaa, the back left or semi-center of Veszprem (Hungary), injured.
And an interrogation point surrounds the presence of their other right -handers of the rear base, the Montpellier Ahmed Hesham, who did not participate in the main tour due to a blow received in a knee.
Reunion after the Olympics
French and Egyptian will only meet six months after their confrontation during the group stage of the Olympic Games, and a draw snatched (26-26) by the Blues thanks to a goal from Ludovic Fabregas at the last second, just avoiding third consecutive defeat. “It's so far for me” swept Nedim Remili on Saturday after success against the North Macedonia (32-25) at the end of the main lathe.
-Six months after the Olympic crash, the blue board is indeed much more presentable, on the shape and on the bottom. The team led by Guillaume Gille won his six matches with ease (11.8 goals apart) and Constance, in defensive effort and in terms of offensive fluidity, even if she did not face any opponent of Very first plan (Qatar, Kuwait, Austria, Hungary, Netherlands and Northern Macedonia).
“Do not give anything easy, to concede anything easy, from the start it is a constant with us. We know that we have a big strike force in attack but that it is the defense that must secure us ” explains Luka Karabatic, praising “Investment, state of mind and combativeness” Blues.
“No one is exhausted”
The courses without a hitch and the richness of the workforce allowed Gille to distribute the playing times, so that “No one can say that he is exhausted, everyone is in a good pace” souligne Remili. “There is just to prove it now on the quarter -final” Add the half-center, which found its level after having passed through the Olympic Games.
It forms a formidable duo of left -handed on the rear base with Dika Mem, in large shape only two months after being operated on the right shoulder. On the right, Thibaud Briet took thickness in the relay of Elohim Prandi, who is still looking for his best sensations after being also injured in the shoulder (left) in November.
“In the game and the situations he plays, it's better”underlines Gille about Prandi, “He has to adjust the target but it goes in the right direction. It is also a story of confidence, to get used to the rhythm of an international match. But I don't worry about its next performances ”. The Parisian had been the author of the decisive pass for Fabregas on the equalizing goal against Egypt at the Olympic Games. Six months later, the two selections will compete this time in a cleaner match.
