Thanks to a strong attacking performance, the French handball players were able to confidently win their opening game at the European Handball Championship against the Czech Republic with 42:28 (20:14). Director Elohim Prandi not only shone as a goalscorer, but also as an assist provider.
In Fornebu, Norway, the defending champions could also rely on the world-class inner block of Karl Konan and Ludovic Fabregas. The duo presented their opponents with sometimes insurmountable tasks and paved the way to their opening success early on. In the absence of offensive star Nedim Remili, who was out at short notice, several players were in the mood to score in attack, with Prandi, Melvyn Richardson and Dylan Nahi scoring six times.
Playmaker Prandi was already in strong form at the start
Prandi, director of Paris St. Germain, was chosen as the best player of the game, as he also prepared three goals in addition to his goals. Petr Siroky was the team’s top goalscorer six times for the Czech Republic. On the second matchday of Group C, the Czech Republic will face Norway and the French can take a big step towards the main round against Ukraine.
Richardson opened a brilliant opening phase for the French, in which the favorites were 6-0 within five minutes. Whereas the Czech team couldn’t find a way to counter a strong French defense, only Dominik Solak posed a bit of a goal threat from the backcourt. As the Czech Republic slowly found its way into the game, Jan Uzek slowed his team down with an unfortunate red card (12th).
The Czech Republic is clearly behind early on
The pivot caught his opponent in the face during a defensive action – definitely a tough decision by the Lithuanian referees. Until the break, an open exchange of blows developed, in which both goalkeepers were visibly left alone by their own defense. It was thanks to goalkeeper Tomas Mrkva (SC DHfK Leipzig) that France only went into the break with a 20:14 lead.
The second half started with a moment of shock for coach Daniel Kubes’ team. Leipzig’s Tomas Piroch twisted his ankle during a defensive action and immediately disappeared into the catacombs after being substituted. Similar to the first half, the French overran their opponents in the first few minutes and increased the lead to 28:18 by the 40th minute.
France cannot be stopped by the Czech defense
The Czech team didn’t seem to be able to recover from this short run, as their lead gradually increased. Substitute Charles Bolzinger further unnerved the outsiders, while the French continued to score at will. In the end it was a clear defeat for the Czech team, which is already under pressure in the last two games if they make it into the main round.