Published on : 07/08/2021 – 15:32Modified : 07/08/2021 – 15:39
Detained in 2016 by Denmark, the French men’s handball team took over the Olympic title from the same Danes on Saturday. Guillaume Gille’s men won 25-23. It is the third gold medal in the history of French handball.
Five years ago, in Rio de Janeiro, the Blues had abandoned their Olympic crown in favor of Denmark. This setback was the first act of a transfer of power between the two selections: after the almost undivided domination of France, it was time for the Danes to reign in their turn. This Olympic gold medal was followed by two world titles (2019 and 2021).
But this Saturday, August 7, in Tokyo in an Olympic final in the form of revenge for that of Rio, the French have regained their good. At the end of a hung match, they beat their best opponents (25-23) and climbed to the top step of the podium.
A stifling end to the match before the release
This face-to-face meeting at the top was played out at an irregular pace. After 30 minutes of play, the Blues were in the lead 14-10, thanks in particular to a very solid defense and an imperial Vincent Gérard in his cage. On the other side, Niklas Landin Jacobsen was not bad either, but he could not stop the tricolor machine.
After the break, France started again at the same pace, well helped by the skill and power of Dika Mem and Nadim Remili. With an advantage of six goals (16-10, then 18-12), Nikola Karabatic and his team seemed calm. But suddenly, the Danes got back to their place. Led by their leader Mikkel Hansen as efficient as ever, the Olympic champions made up for their delay, coming back to 21-21, then 23-22, and again 24-23 with 1 minute 30 seconds from the end of the match.
Too punished for indiscipline (four penalties of two minutes), the Blues had to re-mobilize and face a Denmark ready to do anything not to leave his throne. The atmosphere became tense, the seconds passed slowly … And in the end, France kept its short but essential advance. The last decisive possession of the Danes did not succeed and the Blues were able to exult.
After 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London, French handball players won a third gold medal. The old briscards Luc Abalo, Nikola Karabatic and Michaël Guigou, the last survivors of those we called the Experts, were each of these conquests. These three are part of the history of handball. France is back on top.
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