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They had warned: "We tend to start competitions like diesel. " And the engine of the French women's handball team took time to heat up, Thursday, November 29, and ended up stalling. Opposed to an inspired Russia, in a rematch of the last Olympic final, the French have pained for their start of the Euro at home. Teammates of captain Siraba Dembélé bow after a stifling duel (23-26).
"It's as usual, so no worries, quipped the Dean Alexandra Lacrabère after the meeting. I would have been worried if we had won the first match. " The arduous start is a French specialty, and last year, at the World Cup, they had experienced such a mishap against Slovenia. Their next opponent to the Euro, against whom they will not have the right to the error after this initial misstep.
Was it the new shirt they were opening for the occasion? Or the anxiety of a start of a home competition? The players of the France team seemed borrowed in the beginning of the match. If Amandine Leynaud, in his cages, maintained order against the opponents' offensives, the Blues stalled in attack. Mute until the seventh minute, they could not take back the defense put in place by Evgenii Trefilov.
The good shots of Kanor
The digested start, a trench fight begins. In this first period, the Blue sail within range of the Russians. Kanor especially. The young messina, perfect shooting, keeps her teammates afloat when France stammers attack. And as soon as they get closer to a goal of the opponent, the Russians re-accelerate, or the French forget the ball on the road. At the break, both teams are back to back (11-11).
In the dampness of a sports palace Gentilly of Nancy having sold out – nearly 5,000 spectators – the French thought they had reversed the trend at the beginning of the second period. On the wings of an Orlane Kanor continuing his harvest (6 goals, 6 of 7 shooting), the players of Olivier Krumbholz quickly take three goals in advance.
In vain. The Russian players returned, like so many cold waves chilling French fans. And taking advantage of the French mistakes – especially in counterattack, where the Blue missed opportunities to return – the Russians have closed their defense and the meeting.
"We were killed by a young person we did not know", acknowledged Alexandra Lacrabère. The young Daria Dmitrieva, author of 8 goals, punished the Blue throughout the game. "We did not make a mountain of this meeting. Russia is a mountain, with extraordinary players next to each other, starting with DmitrievaOlivier Krumbholz said, paying tribute to the young woman (23 years old). She did not beat us all by herself, but when the girls are going to see the video again, they will realize how much she has affected the outcome. "
"It's hell to play"
And the coach, disillusioned, to feign surprise at the depth of the Russian strength, back to the top after two years: "I do not know how they do it, but they do come out of dozens of young players with exceptional technique. They lose almost no ball, and do not miss a shot. It's a bit of hell to play. " "We grind one, two, three, and then finally the fourth and the fifth arrive and we have problemscontinued Allison Pineau. This is Russia, a huge reservoir, like their country. "
If nothing is lost for the rest of the competition, because of its convoluted formula, the French will have to tighten the game against Slovenia (Sunday) and Montenegro (Tuesday) to hope to climb the main round. While knowing that the points lost against Russia will not catch up. "We hope they will escape before"insisted the French coach. And all the Blue insisted not to give in to despondency after this failed start. "There is still a long way to go"recalled Captain Siraba Dembélé.
Earlier this week, Allison Pineau emphasized the importance of "Do not grill joker" input. The French women burned this card. "But we made progress over the matches [de préparation], put Orlane Kanor into perspective. And we plan to progress further. " To them to resume the game in hand, on Sunday, against Slovenia. "They do not have the same game at all as Russia, insisted Olivier Krumbholz, anxious to put his team back on track for success. And we thoroughly badyzed the reasons for our defeat last year. "
Clément Martel (Nancy, special envoy)
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