Discreet but essential, Ludovic Fabregas was appointed ahead of the 2025 World Cup as the new captain of the French handball team, against Kuwait on Thursday (6:00 p.m., to follow LIVE with commentary on Eurosport.fr) in Porec (Croatia). A “evidence” for his teammates and the logical continuation of an early international career.
The Catalan is only 28 years old but has been part of the walls of the French house for ten years, of which he is the pivot. Literally, by his position on the field, and now figuratively: executive of the Blues, with whom he won everything (World Cup-2017, Olympic Games-2021, Euro-2024), Fabregas (1.98m, 153 caps) gained ground this fall after Luka Karabatic decided to hand over the armband at the start of a new cycle and after the Olympic snub.
For us, it was the logical next step
In a twist of fate, it was already during the relay of the youngest of the Karabatic brothers that he was launched into the international deep end, in June 2015 against the Czech Republic, a few weeks before celebrating his 19th birthday.
Ludovic Fabregas for his first competitive match with the captain's armband of the France team, during the big victory against Qatar (37-19)
Credit: Getty Images
And it was quite natural that his name came out of the polls, with “100% of the votes” according to Dika Mem, when the Blues were called at the beginning of November to elect their new captain. “For us, it was the logical next step”underlines Elohim Prandi, for whom Fabregas “was already the deputy” of Karabatic. “It could only be him”agrees Mem, his teammate for five seasons at FC Barcelona before Fabregas joined Veszprem, a major Hungarian club in the summer of 2023, of which he has been captain since this season.
“Tchiqui”his nickname in the French team inherited from his early beginnings – derived from “Little one”the little one in Spanish – has grown up well. “During these ten years, I have learned a lot and progressed, as a player and as a man. This allows me to reach a certain maturity to assume these responsibilities”he explained before the start of the World Cup, started with a big victory against Qatar (37-19).
Essential on both sides of the pitch
He never coveted them – “it was never a goal” – but according to Mem the role “he cares about him”. “I am sure that it will also help him move on to another milestone, especially in his personal life. Generally, we think that at 26-28 years old, we know everything” of the profession, adds the right-back. From the pivot position, Fabregas knows every facet of it.
Confined in his first international years to defense, he doubled from the 2017 World Cup with the attack, tireless in absorbing the physical constraints at the heart of the opposing defense and the defensive withdrawal. Of the four pivots selected by Guillaume Gille for the World Cup (with Luka Karabatic, Nicolas Tournat and Karl Konan), he is the only one in this case.
Ludo has always been a natural leader, on or off the field, through his way of asserting himself through his words and his calm
A shadow worker in a thankless and energy-consuming position, it is above all through his feats of arms on the field that he sees his role as captain. “There are several possible definitions of the role of captain, the leader of men, the performer on the field. For my part, I try to be as efficient as possible” explains Fabregas, who during Euro-2024 admitted to being “discreet in the group” et “not a restless person on a daily basis”.
“Ludo has always been a natural leader, on or off the field, through his calm way of speaking, asserting himself through his words and his calm. He is not necessarily a talker but he has developed that well in recent years. recent times”estimates Nedim Remili, his teammate at Veszprem and since the fall within this vengeful French team.
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