Friday against Sweden (37-28), France continued its tradition of not losing a world semi-final. It’s not the same music in the final. Since its first, lost in 1999 against Norway (25-24 AD), the Olympic champions have failed in four of their six finals, including three against Norway, which they meet again this Sunday to win a third star. Six years after the previous one against… Norway.
“Heroic” is the front page of L’Équipe, on December 13, 1999, to salute the silver medal at the World Championship of French handball players, only beaten after two overtimes (25-24) by Norway, champion of Europe in title, sacred on its lands, in Lillehammer. A performance for the Bleues, tenth two years earlier, for their return to the global scene (15th in 1986, 14th in 1990).
This honorable result, however, cost Carole Martin her place, arriving immediately upon returning from Germany, replaced by Olivier Krumbholz, junior coach since 1992. “They are remarkable. I was afraid of seeing them break down, overwhelmed. On the contrary, they rediscovered collective values in attack and fought incessantly. I have no regrets,” greeted Krumbholz after the 1999 final. With a group made up largely of players he managed as a junior.
Final lost in overtime, while the Blues led at the break (8-10) thanks to an iron defense (already its DNA) behind which Valérie Nicolas stood guard. Two temporary exclusions almost cost dearly but Sandrine Mariot and co held on and even shook Norway leading 18-17 thanks to Nathalie Selambaron.
But the leading Nordic left-back, Kjersti Grini, snatches the extension with a missile from nine meters (18-18). The red card (64th) from Nodjalem Myaro (6 goals) shakes France but Valérie Nicolas makes a decisive save. In the second overtime, the realism of Grini (8 goals) and the solidity of Cecilie Leganger, one of the best goalkeepers in history, in the Norwegian goals, got the better of the French will. France wins its first silver medal in a women’s team sport.
Valérie Nicolas, Véronique Pecqueux-Rolland and Sandrine Delerce, three of the pioneers of the first world final, in Lillehammer in 1999. (Pierre Lablatinière/L’Équipe)
“Renversantes” believes this time L’Équipe, on the front page, to salute the first title of world champion of the French women’s team, winner of Hungary in a final still fought in overtime (32-29), in Zagreb, on December 14, 2003. In Croatia, France presented itself with a second international medal, bronze at Euro 2002.
France is world champion at the end of a stunning scenario. In a room entirely dedicated to Hungarians, the Hungarian public having come as neighbors. Seven minutes from the end, Hungary leads by seven goals (18-25), led by Bojana Radulovics (13 goals). Olivier Krumbholz then launched an almost all-terrain defense with Myriam Korfanty at the forefront: six interceptions and a profitable 10-3 (28-28). Véronique Pecqueux-Rolland also knows how to sow discord in the Hungarian attack. It is she who obtains the precious penalty on a gross error by Anita Görbicz, excluded for this tie.
Leila Lejeune comes in front of Katalin Palinger (29 saves) who has already stopped one of her two attempts. The French full-back scores and snatches extra time. The dynamic changed sides: 4-1 for France in extra-time. And first world title for the French and their captain Stéphanie Cano: “We hung on like crazy. We achieved what we dreamed of. It inevitably gives each of us exceptional satisfaction. »
Leila Lejeune scored the penalty which allowed France to snatch extra time in the final in 2003 in Zagreb. (Didier Fèvre/The Team)
2009: the last step too high
Two years after a fifth place in the world, at home, a year after the elimination in the quarter-finals at the Beijing Olympics by Russia (32-31 AD), France finds the double world title holders, in the final in Nanking in China. An unexpected presence for Camille Ayglon, Raphaëlle Tervel and co, who got off to a bad start in the competition, with two defeats in the preliminary round (20-22 against Brazil, 16-24 against Denmark).
Siraba Dembélé’s rant will be beneficial: France stacks up five successes including one against Russia (24-23) in the main round, thanks to a last-minute save from Cléopatre Darleux, 20 years old at the time. In the final of her first World Cup, the goalkeeper stopped 8 shots in 14 minutes, as many as Amandine Leynaud in 46 minutes.
The young Allison Pineau (20 years old) scored 6 goals, Mariama Signate 8, insufficient against the Russian armada, crowned for the third time in a row. “The last step was too high. We lacked skills and it will absolutely be necessary to progress individually to become more and more effective. We have reached our current limits and we must know how to accept it,” said Olivier Krumbholz.
2011: silver reunion
Thirteen years after their first final, where they revealed themselves to themselves and to the eyes of the world, the French returned to Norway, in Sao Paulo. After beating the Russian title holders in the quarters (25-23) and Denmark in the semi-final (28-23). A success at a high price since Allison Pineau, elected best player in the world in 2009, was injured (knee). Mariama Signé (orbital floor fracture) is also out.
Two absences of weight which are felt against Norway, reigning European and Olympic champion. In addition, Thorir Hergeirsson, the coach in place since 2009 and still present today, has studied the French game well. Notably that of Alexandra Lacrabère, author of ten goals in the semi-final, but who will not score any in the final.
Olivier Krumbholz in front of the French bench, with Amandine Leynaud (number 12), during the final against Russia in 2011. (Alain Mounic/L’Équipe)
Another offensive centerpiece then, Camille Ayglon will be satisfied with a goal. All the more crippling as France is dominated physically and technically. At the break, mass is already said: 13-19. Nineteen goals in thirty minutes… The second global coronation will wait (24-32). “It’s a medal, we’re not going to spit on it. But it’s always disappointing to lose a final. There are excuses but we helped them a little by collapsing at the end of the first half. We knew that against a team like that, it would not be forgiving” can only note Amandine Leynaud, author of 4 saves. His opposite number Katrine Lunde (still there in 2023, at 43 years old) has 17.
Cléopatre Darleux facing Norwegian pivot Heidi Loke in the final in 2011. (Alain Mounic/L’Équipe)
“The second star” headlines L’Équipe on December 18, 2017, to celebrate France’s second planetary quest. After two failures in the final against Norway (1999 and 2011), the Blues finally overcome their best enemies: 23-21. After eliminating Sweden in the semi-final (24-22), like this year…
The 2017 title is that of sharing between a coach and his team: left in 2013 due to shared weariness, Olivier Krumbholz returned in January 2016, led his team to a first Olympic medal in Rio in the summer of 2016 (2nd), then continental bronze four months later.
Messin adopts participatory management. Once again, defense was the keystone of success around Béatrice Edwige and Camille Ayglon, bosses of the central sector, and Estelle Nze Minko as the advanced troublemaker. Eighteen balls wasted for Nora Mork and her teammates who had never scored fewer than 28 goals until then. “We walked over them, we had our game plan, we stuck to it” relishes Béatrice Edwige.
On the offensive side, France drew on the depth of its bench. Paying off: seventeen of his twenty-three goals were scored by non-starters. Including winger Manon Houette, impeccable (4/4).
Siraba Dembélé, the captain, with the winner’s trophy after the final in Germany, in 2017. (Fred Mons/L’Équipe)
“Total eclipse”. The front page of L’Équipe, on December 20, 2021, perfectly sums up the scenario of the final, where France completely collapsed in the second half, allowing Norway (22-29) to take their revenge for 2017.
France, however, advances as Olympic champion and with seven matches without defeat including a crazy semi-final against Denmark (23-22). In the final in Granollers (Spain), Estelle Nze Minko has a +7 ball one minute before the break. But the French captain had the ball stolen by Malin Aune and had the bad reflex of clinging to her rival: a logical temporary exclusion and a penalty for Norway. Even if France takes the lead at the break (16-12), it is a turning point.
Henny Reistad finished as the top Norwegian scorer during the 2021 World Cup final in Spain. (N. Luttiau/L’Équipe)
Three minutes are enough for Stine Oftedal and co’ to come back to the French women who are completely broken down. As in the Euro 2020 final, Silje Solberg closed the Nordic store (12 saves in 33 minutes). France is sinking (6 goals scored after the break) in front of the red tide in which a quartet feasts in attack: Mork (5 goals), Oftedal (5), Reistad (6), Brattset (5). They are still there in 2023… “We knew they were going to come back strong but we didn’t measure to what extent…” notes Grace Zaadi, the French playmaker.
2023-12-15 22:47:22
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