Main round Group III is nearly decided after France did just enough in the first half to resist a second half Iceland comeback, who now cannot progress. It is a tight race between France, Norway, and Portugal to decide the two quarter-finals teams from the group.

MAIN ROUND GROUP III
Iceland vs France 26:28 (14:16)

Ultimately France prevailed, and with it, have won all five of their games at Egypt 2021, with only Denmark and Hungary joining them in the elite 100 percent club.

The first half saw France go ahead by three for the first time in the 18th minute (12:9) and then again in the 24th minute (13:10) after the game had been goalless for the previous five. 

Iceland coach Gudmundur Gudmundsson had already adapted his defence by then, bringing in 20-year-old goalkeeper Viktor Hallgrimsson in for Bjorgvin Gustavsson, who was not having the desired effect.

Hallgrimsson, with his experience of African World Championships, having played all seven matches for Iceland back at the 2017 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship in Algeria, helped stem the flow – a highlight was a seven-metre block stop Michael Guigou – but was to have more of an effect in the second period.

Before then Iceland came back within one, but Melvyn Richardson ensured there was breathing room for France at the break (16:14) with a nine-metre.

The French defence left the court knowing they had a battle on their hands after they were unable to find a way to deal with Icelandic left wing Bjarki Elisson, who had seven first half goals.

It was Elisson, along with right back Viggo Kristjansson, who then propelled their side forward early on. Wearing number 8 and number 7 on their shirts, the ‘7-8’ combination put on the ‘Viggo and Bjarki Show’ as they turned the score around to 18:17, their first lead in the match since the 55th second.

Hallgrimsson also did his job between the posts in his first match since their opening day loss to Portugal, and they found themselves two ahead (20:18, 38th minute), soon after.

France were misfiring, Nedim Remili turned the ball over, Dika Mem received a two-minute suspension and even Kentin Mahe lost the ball after a poor pass but thankfully for the French, Elvar Jonsson shot straight at Yann Genty in the French goal and it was all-square (22:22) with the last quarter to go. Genty had replaced Vincent Gerard earlier.

Just after Ludovic Fabregas put France ahead again (23:22), some hard defending from Valentin Porte on Gilsi Kristjansson saw the Icelandic centre back’s head hit the French right wing’s head on the floor and a dazed Porte got up gingerly.

But France were clear in their performance: win, and despite a subsequent Icelandic timeout, they prevailed with Luc Abalo the outlying defender in their 5-1 defence, built to thwart the threat of the Icelandic 7-8 combination. Later Kristjansson was helped off the court after he appeared to twist his right ankle when pivoting and he would watch his side give their all but be unable to claw back anything.

“I am very proud of my team after this match we were fighting and playing very good at both in defence and attack,” said Gudmundsson. “We were very brave all the time and, in the end, it was small things which decided that we did not win. We missed some good chances. We are proud and sad. The players gave everything they had – they have very big hearts.”

“We are very happy with the two points against Iceland and it opens a little bit more the door to the quarter-finals,” concluded France coach Guillaume Gille.

hummel Player of the Match: Bjarki Mar Elisson, Iceland