a replumped Norway triumphs over Lead Blue – Liberation

The silver medal which sanctioned Sunday in Granollers (Spain) the Mondial de handball des Bleues, rinsed (29-22) by the Norwegian magicians, will have the retrospective taste of disappointment but also of an inestimable, extravagant human value. It was built in the flurry of depressions and psychological impasses felt four months ago by the very fresh Olympic champions of the time, timidly confessed in the team and whose roots appeared multiple, sporting (the ordinary of the championship after the consecration of a life as a player) or linked to the time (the coronavirus and the uncertainty it poses to competitions), more or less shared or conscious.

These difficulties said something about this team that the witnesses had under their noses during the two weeks of competition preceding the lost final on Sunday, and which perhaps explained – it’s up to them to talk about it – by part of the defeat: the enormous psychological investment that is necessary for him to perform. The price to pay for a freer game, less framed than that of the Russians or the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway), which can only survive if the Tricolores are in the state of mind to go beyond the limits. In the opinion of the French players themselves, Friday’s victory (23-22) in the semi-final against the Danes had already been a miracle. The rubber band therefore ended up breaking against Stine Bredal Oftedal and others, until a cruel end to the match, where we saw them climbing Golgotha ​​at two an hour, without a drop of petrol in the tank, during that the Norwegians were making passes in the back and sending kisses to the girlfriends in the gallery.

Scent of euphoria

As usual when they find themselves old regulars in international finals, the two teams offered a stylish opposition. The Nordics evolve with fluidity and speed, often finishing the actions on their tall (1.84m) pivot Kari Brattset – a sign that the Norwegian wingers are under surveillance. Conversely, Les Bleues seek not avoidance but a showdown, presuming a sort of superiority in the duel, of each player over the opponent facing her.

Admitted by the Norwegians (“they would like to have our physical qualities”, explained Béatrice Edwige this week), this pre-eminence is a slow poison. In addition to existing on the floor, she comes back to haunt the minds of Nora Mørk and her teammates at the first shot, causing a loss of confidence that cultivates difficulties. Slightly dominated at the start of the match, the Scandinavians take a first shine after twenty minutes (12-7 for the Blues, 25th), the tricolor goalkeeper Laura Glaser offering five stops in a row when the Nordics do not misplace balls in touch . The gap rises to +6, a scent of euphoria crosses the French ranks to the bench of substitutes, it costs them one or two more goals and the Norwegians are rather happy to reach half-time at -4 ( 12-16).

ghosts hunted

Back from the locker room, the girls coached by Thorir Heirgersson chased away the ghosts. It’s going too fast for the Blues. They hit the void, arrive too late and give all the balls to Grace Zaadi so that the native of Courcouronnes (Essonne) plays in their place. Océane Sercien Ugolin begs the French public to give her courage, goalkeeper Cléopâtre Darleux takes a ball in the head which brings tears to her eyes and the French coach, Olivier Krumbholz, speaks at time out in a desert: usual proactive and talkative, the tricolor players have nothing more to say. Ten minutes from time, the Norwegians are at +6 (26-20) and the French are looking at their shoes.

It has to end. Estelle Nze Minko will take the first microphone that passes: “I’m not sure what happened after the first half. Hot, it’s difficult. At first we were very solid. Afterwards, we struggle, we struggle… We missed our match, yes. From there to know why…” Krumbholz, who still enquires a thirteenth international medal since his arrival at the head of the Blue in 1998 (minus a break of three years between 2013 and 2016): “There is disappointment but there is pride all the same. We played very badly in the second half but just before the break, there are already things wrong. Then, we are clumsy in shooting, then in passing, and there… ” In truth, they had their feet in the cement. Or the adversary has adjusted his mechanics and unrolled his thing without making a whole world of the reigning Olympic champions. Or both.