Already qualified for the semi-finals which will be played on Friday, the French face the Hungarians today, with first place in Group I at stake. A match which surely promises to be electric, powerful, tense, combative, but which goes perfectly prepare for Friday’s match. Because even if France won the last confrontation against Hungary (26 to 22), last October 26 in a friendly match, the counter is reset to zero for this new, oh-so-decisive match! Who will play against Norway?
Les sept parades de Szemerey
To start the meeting, Sébastien Gardillou launches his usual major seven with Lucie GranaryLaura FlippesPauletta FopGrace ZaadiEstelle Nze MinkoChloé Valentini and Laura Glauser in the goals. The first goal of the match was scored after two minutes of play by the Blue center-half from a magnificent top corner from nine meters on an arm already raised. We will have to wait the same amount of time to see the second goal, still on the French side, after the interception of Nze Minko. Because on the other side, the Hungarians, despite being supported by their XXL audience, are unable to break through the tight defense of the Blues. In full doubt, the Hungarians made a series of off-target shots and bad decisions. Because even in numerical superiority, following the first exclusion of the captain of the Bluesthey chain a strong pass and an off-target shot on the empty goal. Naturally, the Hungarian coach takes his time out while his team has still not scored (0-4, 8′). This is the right back of FTC, Katrin Klujberwho got his team out of trouble by opening the scoring with a penalty obtained from a foul on the wing (1-4, 9′). At the same time, it brings out Valentini for the second exclusion of the match. This allows Messina, Petra Let’s goto find the loopholes and take off (4-7, 15′). With such defensive intensity, Gardillou makes its first changes by bringing in Léna Grandveau and Orlan Kanorbut the offensive combination does not find the path to goal. Gardillou reacts, and puts his two favorite backs back on their feet, Flippes et Nze Minko. It must be said that the two teams are engaged in a good defensive battle and the managers also need to breathe. And when the Hungarian goalkeeper, Zsofi Szemerey, she too Messina, continues her third parade, the task gets tougher for the wingers. The backs then found solutions on their pivots, allowing them to continue the race in the lead (6-10, 22′). Frustrated by the lack of efficiency of his players, the Hungarian coach decides to take a second time-out. And this perhaps marks the turning point in the minds of the Hungarians who are regaining their efficiency. The two new parades of Szemerey allow us to return to two lengths behind, and fortunately Glauser does the same to counter Let’s go which was launched at a crazy pace (8-10, 23′). This parade launches a very nice counterattack for Coralie Lassource which allows us to maintain the three-goal lead (8-11, 25′). But you still have to not give up in the last five minutes. Because Szemerey continues its work on Toublanc who stumbles a second time on the Hungarian goalkeeper. With seven saves on the clock, it reduces the gap (9-11, 26′). And helped by a new numerical superiority, following the exclusion of Flippesand a fourth penalty (only one French side), the Hungarians are back in the race, leading Gardillou to take his time-out (10-11, 26′). Numerical inferiority hurts, because of a senior Déborah Lassourcefollowed by a loss of ball Nze Minkothe Hungarians scored twice on the empty goal to equalize (12-12, 29′). The last two lobs of this first half will allow the two teams to return to the locker room tied (13-13, MT).
The Blues have always led
Back from the locker room, Gardillou decides to bring in Hatadou Says who succeeds in his first parade on Lukacs. Returning more incisive than at the end of the first half, the French have just scored a 3-0 against the Hungarians despite the new saves from the goalkeepers. The quality of the French players’ play is still as good as ever, like the magnificent kung-fu between Flippes et Valentini which comes into being in the 34′ (14-17, 34′). The pace is as maddening as ever, and it is perhaps the exit of the Hungarian goalkeeper which will mark a first turn for the Hungarians (16-19, 37′). Gardillou takes the opportunity to blow away his executives with the entry ofby Horace and of Lassourcewhich allows them to play fast ball rises, like this sumptuous blind pass fromby Horace on Fop (17-20, 38′). The minutes of rest passed, Flippes returns to the field and is as valuable as ever, notably by scoring a magnificent goal from nine meters. The fifth parade of Says (5/12) allows us to maintain the gap at the end of the match which promises to be heated (20-23, 45′). But the Metz right-back is calm, and it is she who makes the difference, as dangerous as she is on all fronts. The attack-defense change made by his coach also allows him to channel his fatigue. Her Hungarian counterpart is just as effective on the penalties her team gets (22-25, 48′). The first exclusion of the Hungarians due to a foul on C. Lassource and his explosive one-on-one on the wing allows the French to breathe a little more (22-26, 49′). But Szemereyreturned to the field a few moments earlier, diverts the attempt to Granier; it must be said that the right wingers had no longer accustomed us to their failures (2/6 for Granary and 0/2 for Toublanc). Even so, Flippes continue his attack and allow a new penalty to be obtained, immediately transformed by by Horace (23-27, 51′).
The Hungarian coach takes his time-out, which as usual re-mobilizes his team (23-27, 52′). But the defensive activity of Les Bleues is impressive, and nothing seems to stop them. Gardillou takes his timeout just before the end of the legal time limit which will allow him to take a second timeout if he wishes (24-27, 54′). This last breath allows us to regain the collective fluidity of a balloon which lives between Flippes – Nze Minko – Horacek until Valentini (5/6) who finds the path to the goal. The last two parades of Says (7/21) The French took first place in Goure I, winning 27 to 30 against the valiant Hungarians.
Our eyes will now be focused on the last day of Group II which will be played tomorrow, Wednesday December 11, to determine the future opponent of the French:
- Denmark – Netherlands (18:00)
- Suisse – Norway (20h30)
Les Bleues should play the first semi-final scheduled in Vienna on Friday at 5:45 p.m.
