Guillaume Gille (coach of the French handball team, after qualifying for the semi-finals of the Euro thanks to the 33-28 victory against Austria on Monday): “We used the first match ball to qualify for the main round after a match that was not easy. It took us a while to find a somewhat regular performance. (…) The regularity proves the quality of this team, the consistency of its performance. This places us as a reference team in the international concert.”
Dika Mem (Blues right-back): “We really want to finish this group stage with as many victories as possible and at the top of the group. (….) Qualification represents a lot, the French team has not got people used to it well. It is not easy. Five semi-finals (in a row in a major tournament, Editor’s note), it shows that we are there all the time and now we want to go to the end. (…) Samir was very good. If we want to be a great nation, it also requires goalkeepers. The best have goalkeepers making around fifteen saves per match. Today it was Samir. It could be any one, we have confidence in all three.”
Samir Bellahcene (Blues goalkeeper): “I’m super happy. Something big is coming (…) Strangely, the room was for us this evening and it grew well. Afterwards I understood for myself, my German friends thanked me at the end, I was entitled to danke and thanks.”
Benoît Kounkoud (right winger of the Blues): “The final four is a goal each time for the France team, but above all the final victory. It’s been a while since we won a Euro and it’s on everyone’s mind. We are proud today but nothing is done, we want nothing other than the gold medal.”
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