Nikola Karabatic, top scorer yesterday with 5 goals. (afp photo)
France men’s handball team dominated the Spain (31-24) in the final of the Eurotournoi yesterday in Strasbourg, at the end of a superbly controlled game, two weeks of the start of the Olympic tournament in London.
In early afternoon, Icelanders had conquered the third place in the tournament by taking the best on Tunisians (31-27). The four teams will meet in London. After beating without brio these same Tunisians Friday (31-24), Claude Onesta men have raised their level of play yesterday to the Spaniards, before a public conquered some 5,000 people.
The French have done the race lead during the meeting, at a high rate of both sides. In the first half, they have counted up to five goals in advance on the Spanish (9-4, 11th), before returning to the locker room with a score of 18-14.
Including could count on a Nikola Karabatic more bleeding than against the Tunisia. Positioned back left, he was the top scorer of blue (5 goals on 7 shots). At his side, the winger Michael Guigou also demonstrated efficiency (4 goals on 4 shots).
More aggressive
The two teams, which are part of the Favorites of the OJ, put the intensity. With the aggressive defence of the Blues, led by a defiant Didier Dinart, a mood of Aguirrezabalaga gesture cost a red card in Spanish (23rd minute). The “Experts” have finally dug the gap late in the second period by a 5-0 between the 21st (26-23) and the 28th minute of the match (31-23), ending the meeting with seven goals in advance (31-24).
In January, the Spanish had inflicted on the France his first defeat in opening of Euro-2012 in Serbia, the French have finished a disappointing 11th place. For Nikola Karabatic, “satisfied” at the end of the match, “aggressiveness is rise a notch.” “But it remains a game of preparation, the truth will be at the Olympics.
