Toublanc’s cheek, Sercien’s difficulties

TOPS

Alicia Toublanc, what nerve!

At 25, after having experienced a rough course due to two serious knee injuries, Alicia Toublanc saw the first major international competition of her career at Granollers. And she takes full advantage of it to showcase herself in a very open position. Since the start of the competition, the Brestoise had alternated the good and, also, the less good, perfectly legitimate for a discovery of the very high international level. In this semi-final, Toublanc was very discreet for a long time, except for a shot in the head from Danish goalkeeper Althea Reinhardt. Before revealing himself in the money-time by scoring in quick succession two burning goals on his wing, one to equalize, the other to give France the advantage for the first time in this semi-final. Decisive at the best time.

A fantastic goalkeeper duel

During this semi-final, each goalkeeper will have had their moment, thus offering a fascinating spectacle. On the French side, long in difficulty in the first act, Laura Glauser made two superb parades before joining the locker room, leaving her partners alive with two goals behind (10-12). And in the second half, Cleopatra Darleux took over, with a similar scenario. Pierced for 20 minutes, the Brestoise changed the game in the last ten minutes with four stops as important as each other. Opposite, Althea Reinhardt was solid, before giving way to a demonic Sandra Toft also at the end of the meeting.

FLOPS

So many ball losses in the first period

In the quarter-finals against Sweden (31-26), the Blue had in all and for all lost only eight balls. This Friday, against the Danes, the players of Olivier Krumbholz needed “only” 18 minutes to reach such a total. Faced with a Scandinavian defense well in place, more or less staged which disturbed the French rear, the total number of balls lost in nature rose to ten at the break. Too much ammunition given to the Danes who did not hesitate to use them in ball climbs on the fast game determining in such a match. Fortunately, in the second half, probably well cropped by Krumbholz, the Blue only lost three small balls, which changed everything.

Océane Sercien in the hard

Two days after celebrating her 24th birthday, Océane Sercien-Ugolin did not have a very nice gift this Friday with a delicate performance. Especially in the first period where she lost two balls and failed twice against the Danish goalkeeper. And during the second act, she unfortunately added a third shooting failure, for an overall performance that was clearly insufficient at this level. Regrettable as its quarter-final and its last outings gave hope for a rise in power, brutally stopped by Denmark on Friday. But on Sunday, she will have the opportunity to show all her talent and her ability to bounce back.