The French handball players, who finished the preliminary round undefeated, lost this Thursday against the Danes (29-32) for their debut in the main round.
In a match which gave pride of place to defense in the first period, and made goalkeeper Emil Nielsen shine, the Blues lost against the Danes (32-29) in Herning, and lost a first joker on the path leading to the semi-finals of the Euro handball. With two points – retained at the end of the preliminary round – the reigning European champions still have the cards in hand after this first shock of the main round, but will have to win against the Portuguese on Saturday to avoid starting to see red.
“It’s super hard, for 55 minutes we deliver a high quality match”reacted, frustrated, Thibaud Briet. A feeling shared by his captain Ludovic Fabregas, who admits that “it could have gone our way”. “There was a lot of investment, in a match of incredible intensity, greeted Guillaume Gille, but in the moments when it plays out, they are the ones who score the goals, make the defenses and saves that work. Even if there are lots of beautiful things”. “This defeat will give us even more teeth, assured Thibaud Briet, we are dogs, and we are going to seek (the qualification) like adults”.
