The French handball team easily beat Hungary (37-30) this Tuesday to open the main round of the 2025 World Cup.
The French handball team began the main round of the World Cup as it had finished the previous one, with a large victory on Tuesday in Varazdin (Coratie) against Hungary (37-30) which already opens the door to the quarter-finals. Winners of their closest pursuer, the Blues (6 pts) now have a lead of two lengths over the Netherlands (2nd), and three over the Magyars as well as the Austrians. A draw on Thursday against the Dutch and they would validate their ticket for the quarter-finals, even before the last match against North Macedonia, and would most likely be assured of first place in the group.
Beyond the step forward in terms of accounting, they generally produced a demonstration of strength, moving up a notch compared to their three quiet victories acquired in the preliminary round (37-19 against Qatar, 43-19 against in Kuwait and 35-27 against Austria). “We are in the right place after a successful match which allowed us to stay in the dynamic we were in, with a lot of rotation and quality, whatever the configurations.», appreciated the coach Guillaume Gille.
Desbonnet decisive, Remili and Mem inspired
The adversity was greater, but the French team stifled it, in front of a much smaller Hungarian crowd than on Sunday against the Netherlands. There was no match, started with fanfare by Guillaume Gille’s players who punished (8-3, 9th) the strategic choice of the Hungarians to attack seven against six, without a goalkeeper. A risky and losing bet in the face of the numerous balls recovered thanks to the saves of Rémi Desbonnet (8/23 at half-time), who even scored in the empty goal, and the very aggressive defense around Karl Konan.
«We immediately had our plan in mind which was to make their big guys run and take advantage of our game in the big space. And when we have this riot of energy in defense and we mount the ball like we do, I think there aren’t many people who can keep up the pace», underlined Desbonnet. The goalkeeper instead downplayed his performance: “We worked well with the big guys in defense and with the goalkeepers on video. Faced with a team that shoots much further than those we met, the goalkeeper can make the saves that put him in the match.»
-The Magyars tried again at the start of the second half to play 7 against 6, to try to make up the deficit (23-15 at half-time). For an identical result (28-17, 39th) which offered a very comfortable lead, behind which the Blues relaxed their grip a little (31-25, 46th). They were then able to count on a valuable save from Desbonnet, who saved a -5 ball at point blank range (47th). Three minutes later, they were back in the lead (33-25).
Delighted Blues
Very solid in defense, where it notably forced the Hungarians to take complicated shots, the French team also delivered an often sparkling performance in attack. The duo composed of Nedim Remili (5/8) and Dika Mem (6/9) hovered over the first period, like this marvel of blind pass behind the first, after having fixed a defender, for the second (9-4, 10th). The replacements also stood out, such as Nicolas Tournat (3/4), Aymeric Minne (4/5) and Melvyn Richardson (5/6). A full match and plenty of points.
Right-back Dika Mem appreciated the “great match» of the Blues. “There was a very big first half», and underlined Mem. «We are very determined in this World Cup to really dominate all the teams we will meet. We don’t look at anyone with concern, but we look at everyone with respect» added goalkeeper Rémi Desbonnet.
Center half Nedim Remili also welcomed the “very nice picture» left by the Blues «in the attitude, the intensity that we put on both sides of the field». «There was also very good tactical mastery, defensively and offensively. For now, everything is going well. We know that the matches that are coming are going to be harder and harder, we will have to continue to fight“, he added.
