missed their match, the Blue lost in the semi-finals against Denmark

The Olympic vice-champions were aiming for a new final against Norway but faltered in their handball in the semi-finals against Denmark on Friday (24-22).

In Vienna, the Les Bleues symphony, played so well since the start of the Euro, experienced its first fatal false notes. Unrecognizable, the French team was asphyxiated by Denmark on Friday December 13, and chased the score throughout the meeting, without ever leading, even in the first minutes. The Blues ultimately lost 24-22 in the semi-finals and will still have to wait to win the second Euro in their history.

A very good defensive withdrawal to prevent rapid ball attacks from the Bleues, a very compact defense to prevent them from developing their game and their numerous combinations… The Danes had studied the French team well and did everything to put them in check . Above all, they were able to count on a great goalkeeper, Anna Kristensen, who disgusted Sébastien Gardillou's players with her 16 saves.

But if the Blue lost, it was not only the result of an excellent Danish performance. The French themselves made too many errors, with numerous ball losses in attack, and shots off target (7), for an efficiency of only 49%. Their start to the match set the tone with a first goal which only came in the sixth minute, by Laura Flippes. Then they also experienced a gap without scoring for 8 minutes in the first period (between the 17th and 25th), before returning to the locker room trailing by two goals (11-13).

The French team managed to equalize in the second half (14-14, 40th), but lacked creativity to get around the Danish defense and take the advantage. “The disappointment is strong, I have the impression that we were very close but we missed key moments. The difference was made in the goalkeepers, we missed a lot of shots for a semi-final, we managed to come back, we had the +1 ball and we didn't put it away. We did not know how to insist on putting doubt in them”regretted Grace Zaadi at the microphone of TFX after the match. Even if it was not the metal they were looking for, the Olympic vice-champions will have to remobilize to win bronze on Sunday against Hungary.