Should we see a large renewal in view of the next deadlines? Not really ! If Olivier Krumbholz has selected only seven Olympic champions, out of the sixteen present in Tokyo, for the two qualifying matches for Euro 2022, in early October, it is not a purely sporting choice.
It is imperative to give them rest, rather than always pulling on the rope.
Olivier Krumbholz, coach of the Bleues
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The coach of the French women’s handball team only responded favorably to the request of several of his players, who asked to make a small cut with the selection.
Seven Olympic champions out of twenty players
“The girls came out of the Olympics very tired and they asked to be rested. I consider it imperative to give them rest, rather than always pulling the rope,” said Krumbholz, on the sidelines of the announcement of the group of twenty players called to meet the Czech Republic on October 6 in Besançon, then in Ukraine on the 10.
“We have very important objectives from December,” he added, with the 2021 World Cup in Spain in Granollers in view.
Thus, Grâce Zaadi, Cléopâtre Darleux, Laura Flippes or Estelle Nze Minko do not appear in the list. Amandine Leynaud and Blandine Dancette, they retired internationally after the victory at the Olympics.
Finish in the first two positions
The French team will make a short stop at the Maison du handball in Créteil after the match in Besançon, before heading to eastern Ukraine in Soumy, for their second qualifying match for Euro-2022.
Vice-champions of Europe in 2020, the French must take one of the first two places in their qualifying group which includes, in addition to the Czech Republic and Ukraine, Croatia, 3rd in the last Euro-2020.
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