Less than a week before the start of the Euro (November 28-December 15), the French women's handball team was able to measure the work that still remains to be done by losing 28-27 against Spain Friday in Saint-Chamond.
As its entry into the continental competition looms (next Thursday against Poland), the French women's handball team took up residence in the Loire, moving closer to Basel (Switzerland) where his competition will begin.
But the match they played showed that certainties and automatisms still remain to be found.
Victorious exits from their last confrontation againstSpain at the beginning of August during the Paris Games (32-24), the Olympic vice-champions were this time overthrown in the second half in the hall of the Arena Saint-Etienne Métropole, not completely filled for the event.
With their two matches against Hungary in October, they are now two defeats in three matches played since the end of the Games and the start of the era Sébastien Gardillouwhich succeeded the emblematic Olivier Krumbholz at their head.
Absent against the Hungarians, the executives Star Like Minko (the captain), Chloé Valentini, Laura Flippes et Pauletta Foppa had nevertheless started well the French, who led 6-1 before the 10th minute of play, after a laborious start to the match and marked by losses of ball on both sides.
And Laura Glauserimperial in the cage in the first period, allowed the Bleues to stay in front, while Valentini recorded a 4/4 on shots, the French still left their evening rivals within reach, trailing only two goals at the break (15-13).
The Spanish took the lead in the second act, widening a lead that the Blues were unable to completely fill at the end of the match, failing to score a goal, 27-28.
Sunday at 7:00 p.m., in this same hall in Saint-Chamond, a few kilometers from Saint-Etienne, they will face Angola for a final dress rehearsal, the last opportunity to warm up and reassure themselves before the return of the big evenings of the Euro.
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