Usually, a second round of the European Handball Championship is a hum before (finally) attacking the knockout matches. Not this time, at least not when it comes to the French team defending its title in Denmark. After an easy first round in Norway against the Czech Republic (42-28), Ukraine (46-26) and a well-managed first summit against Norway (38-34), Guillaume Gille’s Blues play the main round in the group of death.
At the end of the first round, the teams ranked in the first two places in groups A, B and C (that of France) find themselves together in group I. Coming from the same group, Norway accompanies France. But the two selections will not face each other again.
From group A come Germany and Spain and from group B, Portugal and Denmark.
We find in this group: the Danish four-time reigning world champions who also play at home in Herning. Olympic champions in Lille, they remain the number 1 favorites for the tournament despite their surprise defeat on Tuesday against the Portuguese (31-29).
With them, there is also the podium for the 2024 Olympic Games: Denmark, Germany and Spain. To this 3-star table, we must add the surprising Portugal, the nation on the rise, fourth in the 2025 World Cup which the Blues barely beat in the small final (35-34). We must obviously not forget France, the reigning European champion.
“We are ready for this type of meeting”
In a week, only the best two teams will emerge alive to go to the semi-finals. There will be breakage and big ones will fall. The slightest defeat risks being fatal for everyone.
Thanks to its victory over Norway, France already leaves with 2 points. It’s the same for Germany, already winner of Spain (34-32) and Portugal, winner of Denmark. The France-Denmark this Thursday evening is already decisive for the Danes who can no longer lose, a little less for the French. “This second week will be very dense,” predicts Guillaume Gilles’ deputy, Yohan Delattre. Were we prepared to play Denmark first? No, it wasn’t the priority scenario, that’s obvious. But we are ready for this type of meeting.”
At this time, the two places in the half must logically be played between French, Danes and Germans. Provided you don’t lose any points against the others, direct confrontations between the three nations will be decisive. Especially the France-Germany on January 28, the last tour of this very high-risk pool. Unless there are defeats between now and then, this game will resemble a quarter-final.
In any case, this confrontation will take on a particular dimension, 18 months after the nightmare of Lille and the victory of the Germans in the quarter-finals against the French title holders. There will be revenge in the air to dry Lille’s tears once and for all. Or revive them.
The Blues program:
Thursday January 22: Denmark –France (20h30)
Saturday January 24: France– Portugal (3:30 pm)
Monday January 26: France– Spain (6 p.m.)
Wednesday January 28: France– Germany (6 p.m.)
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