The expected, hoped-for reaction took place. Two days after a sinister draw conceded against Switzerland (26-26), finally unable to make their exploit bear fruit at the end of the afternoon by losing against North Macedonia (27-29), the team of France reacted perfectly by dominating Germany (33-30) at home to conclude the first round of the Euro. An important success in view of the future, which the Blues will approach with two points in their bag, which should prove valuable.
And if the Blues needed another booster shot, the Germans took it upon themselves to administer it unceremoniously at the start of the match. The half-center-pivot tandem formed by the duo Juri Knorr-Johannes Golla caused misery to the French defense and in a boiling room, the Mannschaft stood out from the start (0-3, 4th). Especially since goalkeeper Andreas Wolff made several saves, in particular on Yannis Lenne who, returning from injury, was exhausted on his right wing. Nevertheless, without panicking, carried by Nikola Karabatic accustomed to this type of match, France resurfaced little by little. Two goals in quick succession from Ludovic Fabregas brought her back to level with her host (6-6, 12th), before she went ahead several times (7-6, 8-7, 9-8).
But Germany did not give up and the standoff continued until the last minute of the first act, during which Mevyn Richardson, then Elohim Prandi with an improbable missile of which he alone holds the secret, gave two goals advances to the Blues (17-15). For the first time in the match, at the best moment. Especially since from the restart, the French stepped on the accelerator and took a four-goal lead against the Germans in the tough attack (19-15, 33rd). But who could count on their last rampart, Wolff, to resurface and return to level (25-25, 47th).
Ten minutes from the end, it was difficult to know which way the scales would tip. By putting out an extraordinary defense, Guillaume Gille’s players managed to shut down the Mannschaft for almost seven minutes to regain a three-goal lead (30-27, 56th). A gap from which the Germans could not recover, like Knorr who ended up physically boiled. In the end, the Blues won by three lengths (33-30). With the feeling of duty (very well) accomplished).
