A few days before the start of the World Cup, the French handball team had a rather confusing evening against Portugal. But as (too) often, the Blues got the last word in the story.
The French handball team achieves the almost perfect shot
For the last preparation match before the World Cup, the France team faced Portugal at Rhénus sport in Strasbourg. A tough duel, much more than against the Czech Republic at the start of the week (37-28). But from the start, the Blues have us contradicted. No for them, the match seems even easier. Guillaume Gille’s men shot the Portuguese nets without the slightest empathy, and led 4-0, then 9-2 after just seven minutes. The tricolor steamroller is terrible to see. But the Blues are much more fair play than we think, and bring the Portuguese back into the match. The two teams return to the locker room with a closer score (23-19), and this is only the beginning.
As soon as they return from the locker room, the Blues could kill the match and regain a ten-goal lead. But it is a completely different scenario that is unfolding before our eyes. The French see their lead melt away like snow in the sun, and yet God knows that the latter is not omnipresent in Strasbourg. Even the captains of the French team are caught in the Portuguese avalanche, like Nedim Remili who misses a throw from 7 meters, and misses his duel against the Portuguese goalkeeper for a second time in a row. A pure treat. Portugal comes back to 35-34, forcing Guillaume Gille to take a timeout. We think we’re dreaming. But not everyone seems excited by this scenario, starting with Melvyn Richardson, who does not hesitate to score a goal from the other end of the field. Everything has to be redone.
After Richardson, it’s Samir Bellahcene’s turn to put on the show. The French goalkeeper makes parade after parade, and little by little disgusts the Portuguese, and us at the same time. The French team finally won 44-38, and signed a second victory in two matches. We have experienced more reassuring preparation before a World Cup.
