Nantes is embarking on the first European Final Four in its history, this Saturday, against Baia Mare (2:45 p.m.), the host of the competition. A great experience that could allow the club to tick off its main objective for next season: to compete in a European Cup.
This is a historic first for Nantes but not an end in itself. This first European Final four that the Ligériennes are contesting this weekend is the first hook, in a fruit whose flower was pampered in spring and then harvested in the right season. “We haven’t won anything yet and we would like to add a line to our prize list”, just reminds Blandine Dancette. The international right winger, 2017 world champion with Les Bleues, is also playing her first weekend of European finals in a club. And her last, since she will end her career this summer. “With Nîmes we won the Challenge cup but it was different”, remembers the Stéphanoise.
Heine and Saurina captains of the ship
Nantes crossed a first milestone when the Dane with long-sleeved t-shirts under polo shirts arrived. Allan Heine put his stamp, brought his experience and his joie de vivre in the group then led by Jan Basny. By his side, Guillaume Saurina. Although experienced as a player, the former center-half of Nîmes was just sitting on a professional bench as a member of the staff. Once the Dane returned to Aalborg, the center-half with 1235 goals in the first division logically took over, with Mathieu Lanfranchi. Without the ship changing course. “We saw the project grow, admits Blandine Dancette, arrival from Chambray in Nantes in 2017. For four years, things have evolved the team can play something. The club puts us in the best conditions to perform. ” Nantes arrived at Baia Mare this Friday, from Metz, where a Butagaz Energie League match was played on Wednesday (Messines 34-28 victory), in a private plane.
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✊ 1/2 final of the@ehfel_official on the program this Saturday at 2:45 p.m. facing Baia Mare!
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– LBE_Officiel (@LBE_Officiel) May 7, 2021
The left-hander knows that Baia Mare, at home, remains a great piece to play. Even in an empty room. “We talked a lot about Siofok (who will face Herning in the other semi-final, Editor’s note), but Baia Mare showed beautiful things, she admits. It’s up to us to put in place a good strategy to counter their game which is well licked. They score a lot of goals and they have a homogeneous team. They are ahead of Valcea in the league, second behind Bucharest. ” The task will not be obvious but the Nantes women showed consistency in the group stage, despite a defeat on the green carpet, when Lada could not move due to the regulations established by the Ehf. They finished first ahead of Lada, Lublin and Kastamonou. “These are great teams with renowned players, it was interesting to help our team progress.”
European Cup objective
This Final Four, beautiful event it is, does not make Ligériennes forget that not all of the season’s goals have been achieved yet. “We have to qualify for a European Cup next year, insists the wingman. We are still in the race, it is not over because in the championship we really have to finish in fourth place to secure this European ticket. ” To leave the least feathers in Romania, the Nantes women will have to make the most of their moment. Especially since the life of Blandine Dancette will take another turn at the end of the season. This could also be the case of Camille Ayglon-Saurina, the other left-hander, inseparable from the HBC Nîmes jersey, who extended her contract for one year in February 2020 but who likes to remind people that she still has not announced his retirement.
Maxime Cohen.
The program :
Baia-Mare / Nantes 14:45 (Eurosport player)
Siófok KC – Herning-Ikast 18h (Eurosport player)
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