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Qualifications for Euro 2022 handball: the French were scared against Ukraine

Of the sixteen sacred in Tokyo a two months ago, only six were part of the new tricolor adventure, the one that should lead them to the next Euro, organized by three ex-Yugoslav republics, Slovenia, North Macedonia and Montenegro, from November 4 to 20, 2022. Olympic champions and current European vice-champions, the players of Olivier Krumbholz have no other acceptable outcome than to qualify in an affordable group 4, where only Croatia is a figure of another serious candidate for the first two qualifying places.

And with a second victory in as many games, this Sunday in Ukraine (25-28), the Blue, even without their captives at rest, are well on the way to achieve their goal. Four days after their demonstration against the Czech Republic (38-22), where the goalkeepers Laura Glauser and Catherine Gabriel had been enormous, just like the young shoots, like the small phenomenon Pauletta Foppa (top scorer with five goals) , the French had much more difficulty dictating their pace, against euphoric opponents.

Sensational Catherine Gabriel

Far from the warm atmosphere of Besançon, in a university hall of Soumy which offered a USSR period decor of the 1970s, the Bleues came out of a tricky match against a Ukrainian youth relieved of all pressure, after his exceptional coup achieved in opening against the Croats (22-23), bronze medalists of the last Euro.

At 15-16 at halftime, and even led by two goals with seven minutes remaining, the Krumbholz players relied on a huge performance from Catherine Gabriel in the cage. The goalkeeper of Paris 92 was heroic when the Blues were in the process of doubting, and multiplied the saves in the second act.

The experienced French goalkeeper Laura Glauser (28) was less sovereign than usual, perhaps disturbed by the probable big injury of her teammate Adja Ouattara before the break, the only downside in the end. Touched in the knee, the young pivot of Paris 92 (19 years old) was carried off the field by Laura Glauser and Tamara Horacek, tears in her eyes for her second selection for the France team.

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