After dominating Tunisia on Thursday (35-26), the Blues, vice-world champions, this time played out in the second period (14-14 at the break) against their superior Auriverde opponents.
This eleventh success in as many matches against the Seleçao confirms the good form of Guillaume Gille’s men, before the opening match of the Euro against North Macedonia on Wednesday in the Düsseldorf stadium (6 p.m.), where around fifty Thousands of spectators are expected.
In the absence of the usual starter in the blue cages, Vincent Gérard, forfeited due to injury for the tournament, Montpellier goalkeeper Rémi Desbonnet was again lined up from the start, as against Tunisia, suggesting a role of N .1. Unlike Thursday, it was the former Dunkirk goalkeeper, Samir Bellahcene, who succeeded him – and not Charles Bolzinger. Vincent Gérard’s current joker in Kiel, Germany, took advantage of only his fourth selection to score his first goal with the French team by scoring in the empty cage (28-21).
At the Euro, after North Macedonia, whose coach is none other than the legend Kiril Lazarov, the French will face Switzerland then the host country Germany. They should then cross the path of Spain and Croatia during the second group phase, called the main round, unless there is a huge underperformance.
Even if the Blues are already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in a little over six months, a failure would look bad for the Olympic title holders who have not won a Euro in ten years.
