A little over five months after the fiasco and a painful elimination in the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games at home, the French team is embarking on the reconquest operation. The sometimes crazy schedule of this sport makes the wheel spin quickly, without leaving time to savor or cry.
The World Cup is already replacing the Games in people’s minds. In the year of the 30th anniversary of the first of their six world titles, the Bleus du hand first met in Croatia. They must stay there if all goes well until the semi-final before playing a possible final in Oslo after crossing Europe.
Placed in Group C, the European champions first play a first round which seems easy on paper in Porec on the Adriatic coast, with three matches on the program: Tuesday January 14, 6 p.m.: France-Qatar ; Thursday January 16 (6 p.m.) : France-Kuwait; Saturday January 18 (6 p.m.): France-Austria.
If they qualify, which will still be the least of things (only the last of group C will be eliminated), Guillaume Gille’s players will play the main round in Varazdin in central Croatia. They will meet with Group D of the first round which includes Hungary, the Netherlands, North Macedonia and Guinea. They will play the three matches of this second round on January 21, 23 and 25. The schedule will be determined based on their ranking in the preliminary round.
If they qualify for the quarter-finals provided they finish in the first two places in the main round, they will stay in Croatia. But direction Zagreb for a quarter-final scheduled for Tuesday January 28, a priori against Egypt or Croatia who will be formidable at home. The semi-final, still in Zagreb, is scheduled two days later, on Thursday January 30. The other semi-final will be played twenty-four hours later, but in Oslo.
This is where, in the event of qualification, the French will have to go very quickly if they qualify. The final of the 2025 World Championship will take place in the Norwegian capital on Sunday February 2 at 6 p.m., 3 p.m. if France has to settle for the small final. All matches are broadcast in full on BeIN Sports, certain Blues matches will also be broadcast on the TF 1 group.
