The Paris Olympics seem to be slipping away for the French handball team goalkeeper Cléopâtre Darleux who, on her return to the national team and on the eve of the announcement of the list, missed out on her performance against Norway on Thursday.
“I think it’s going to be complicated”: The Paris Olympics seem to be slipping away for French handball team goalkeeper Cléopâtre Darleux who, for her return to the national team and on the eve of the list announcement, did not shine on Thursday against Norway. For her first international match since December 2022, followed by a concussion that kept her off the field from February 2023 to March 2024, the Tokyo Olympic champion played only 11 minutes and made no saves (on 4 shots) during the rout suffered in Pau (34-22).
Hatadou Sako, her competitor for a place in the 14 alongside the other goalkeeper Laura Glauser, played 48 minutes and finished the game better than she had started it (7/34 in the end).
“I think that at the beginning Krumbholz was really hesitating between Sako and Darleux, but now, given the match, I don’t think so.”
“It’s true that I would have liked to have a bit more playing time, maybe come on in the second half, but hey, it’s the coach’s choices. There weren’t any situations where I could necessarily show off either.”commented Darleux, who has been in a race against time to take part in the Paris Olympics (July 26-August 11) since her return to competition in March with Brest. Coach Olivier Krumbholz indicated that Sako should accompany Laura Glauser, the No. 1 choice for the position, on Saturday for the second preparation match against Norway (again in Pau), and Darleux has no illusions: she should in principle be content with a substitute role, behind the two goalkeepers during the world championship title in December, in her absence.
“I think that at the beginning (Krumbholz) was really hesitating (between Sako and Darleux, Editor’s note), but now, given the match, I don’t think so. Given that he’s going to give (the list of players selected to the International Federation) tomorrow, I think it’s going to be complicated.” Darleux said.
While she doesn’t know what next season will bring, she may have said goodbye to the blue jersey. “I assumed that it might be my last match, ‘enjoy it’. There’s always stress in matches like that, but I still enjoyed it. Even if I would have liked to make more saves of course, that there was a different twist”concluded the goalkeeper.
