Handball: Les Bleues sweep China and validate their ticket for the main round of the World Championships

The French women’s handball team easily validated its ticket for the main round of the World Cup by crushing China on Sunday in Bois-le-Duc (47-21), a weak opponent ideal for training and enjoying themselves, with the wingers in the lead.

If the title holders had waited around ten minutes to let loose in the opening against Tunisia (43-18), they were two days later on time against the Chinese.

To punch their ticket to Rotterdam, where the adventure will continue after a final match against Poland on Tuesday (also 4 pts) for first place in Group F and enter the main round with plenty of points.

To dynamite, also China, an ideal opponent for working on systems – such as the two-pivot attack and layered defense – and the transition game.

The Blues therefore went it alone from the first minutes and, a sign of the non-existent suspense and their overwhelming superiority, Sébastien Gardillou changed five of his six field players at the same time a quarter of an hour into the game (13-4). However, he had to deplore that of Fatou Karamoko, injured in an ankle like Clarisse Mairot on Friday.

“We were keen to reproduce the same thing as against Tunisia and to do even better, we succeeded. We remain on a good dynamic,” declared Floriane André. “We rely on a strong defense and fast play, the identity of the France team. So we save money, and it’s also fun to make long throws towards the wingers, who project quickly,” she added.

After her 10/10 against Tunisia, Suzanne Wajoka once again finished top scorer (7/7) on a left wing deprived of its holder, Chloé Valentini, on maternity leave. Also with Nina Dury (5/5), who is also competing in her first competition, the blue house seems well guarded.