France barely defeated Spain this Saturday during the second day of Group C of Euro 2024 women’s handball (24-22). Les Bleues secure their ticket for the main round.
7:50 p.m. – Match summary
France wins against Spain at the end of the suspense (24-22). The appearance of the first period is very different compared to that played against Poland this Thursday. The two teams are holding together and the Blues are hanging on. Their opponents have something to answer for, like So Delgado who had a very high level first period with seven goals scored. His temporary exclusion just before the break will not allow Les Bleues to get back up to speed before returning to the locker room. Indeed, at half-time, Spain was ahead by a small goal. At the start of the second half, both teams were a little less efficient and France took several minutes to score their first goal. Fortunately for the Blues, the Iberians did not take the opportunity to fly away. On the contrary, France will turn around and get back in front with ten minutes to go, thanks in particular to replacement goalkeeper Hatadou Sako who finished the match with 45% saves. The final moments of the meeting are particularly tense. But the balance will tip in favor of the experience of the French players who will manage to maintain a two-goal advantage despite a numerical inferiority at the end of the match. Sébastien Gardillou’s players qualify for the main round and will play a final preliminary round match against Portugal this Monday at 8:30 p.m.
19:40 – So Delgado player of the match
Without much surprise, the Portuguese Danila So Delgado was elected player of this France – Spain. She will have caused a lot of misery to the French defense with nine goals scored from 13 shots attempted.
19:35 – Qualification in hand!
At the end of this France – Spain, the Blue pocket their ticket for the main round of this Euro 2024 women’s handball. They are now alone in first position in this group C. Despite everything, we will have to finish this preliminary round with a match against Portugal this Monday.
19:29 – It’s over!
It was unbreathable! The Blues won at the end of the suspense in this France – Spain. Explosion of joy for the French women and Sébastien Gardillou who were in great pain this evening in Basel.
19:27 – The good French sequence!! (24-22)
Foppa gets a penalty and two minutes are given to Romero. The Spanish will end up numerically inferior. Zaadi gives the French two steps back with a few seconds to go.
19:26 – More than a goal ahead (23-22)
The noose is tightening! The Spanish now find themselves a short distance behind France with just over a minute to go before the end of this meeting.
19:25 – Gardillou takes a timeout (23-21)
The French coach has some instructions to give on this French possession which is decisive for the end of this France – Spain. The Blues are still outnumbered.
19:23 – Another time out (23-20)
Ambros Martin takes a timeout as his team finds itself on a power play for the next two minutes. There are three left in this France – Spain.
19:22 – Grandveau’s missile (23-20)
The Blues manage to maintain this precious advantage of three goals thanks to Léna Grandveau in this France – Spain.
7:20 p.m. – Five more minutes! (22-19)
+3 thanks to Chloé Valentini with five minutes left to play in this France – Spain. Nothing is decided yet but the Blues are getting closer to qualifying for the main round.
19:19 – Sako continues!! (21-19)
Fifth stop by Hatadou Sako which disgusts the Spanish in this end of France – Spain. These are the stops that will count.
19:18 – Sako decisive! (21-19)
Another stop for Sako and, this time, on a 7m jet. What an entry from the goalkeeper of the France team. The Blues can therefore regain three steps ahead.
19:16 – Les Bleues support (21-18)
It went very quickly on this counter. Coatanea transformed while the Spanish goalkeeper was returning to her cage. Less than ten minutes into this France – Spain and the Blues are getting closer to an important victory.
19:15 – Spain finds the net again (19-18)
After more than six minutes of offensive drought, Spain revived thanks to Martinez. The Iberians are not yet giving up in this high-tension meeting.
19:14 – +2 for France! (19-17)
So Delgado commits a foul which earns him two minutes and a penalty conceded. Horacek does not tremble and allows France to take a small option on the final victory.
19:12 – Nze Minko in check (18-17)
The French captain had a +2 ball in her hands but she missed her face-to-face. The Spanish women can get back together in this France – Spain.
19:10 – Spanish timeout (18-17)
The Spanish coach takes his time out in this second half of France – Spain while his team is having difficulty finishing. There are a little more than ten minutes left in this meeting.
19:09 – Sako catches fire! (18-17)
France goes back in front in numerical inferiority and relies on its goalkeeper in the process which leads to a second consecutive stop in this France – Spain.
19:07 – What a save from Sako (17-17)
And here is the first stop of the evening for France’s replacement goalkeeper. The Blues are numerically inferior.
19:06 – Two more minutes against France (17-17)
Granier receives a temporary exclusion after conceding a throw of 7m. Hatadou Sako has just entered but cannot repel the opposing penalty.
19:05 – Les Bleues regain the advantage! (17-16)
After several minutes behind, France got back in front of Spain in this match with a quarter of an hour to go.
19:04 – France defends better (16-16)
Sébastien Gardillou’s players are much better defensively in this second period of France – Spain. We must now make the difference up front to hope to get back in front.
19:03 – Flippes equalizes! (16-16)
France is back again against Spain. In a rapid transition phase, Flippes concluded after a great effort. That it is undecided in Basel.
19:02 – France hangs on (15-16)
The Spanish women do not fly away in this France – Spain. Kanor manages to score his very first goal of the evening.
18:59 – So Delgado resumes his march forward (13-14)
And here is the eighth goal of the Spanish terror Danila So Delgado which allows them Spaniards to regain the advantage in this France – Spain.
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