The Olympic champions received their first real test of the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship against Montenegro on Tuesday evening but came through relatively unscathed, battling against a dogged opponent who had the entire support of the Palau d’Esports in Granollers in their favour.

With their 24:19 win this evening, France have won all four meetings between the two teams at IHF Women’s World Championships: 2013 – 17:16, 2015 – 34:23, 2017 – 25:23, 2021 – 24:19.

GROUP A
France vs Montenegro 24:19 (12:12)

The injured Laura Flippes, replaced by Orlane Ahanda yesterday, sitting on the bench ahead of this clash was the only indication that Olivier Krumbholz’s France side had any issues going into their third match of Spain 2021. 

Leading 6:5 with a quarter gone, Montenegro were in charge, but then a 3:0 run put the French ahead (8:6, 18th minute), responded to in kind by Montenegro (9:8, 25th minute).

Despite another 3:0 run from the French towards the closing stages of the opening period, Montenegro kept in touch, scoring late on to take a 12:12 draw into the break – the first time at an IHF Women’s World Championship Montenegro have not behind against the French after 30 minutes.

But Tatjana Brnovic’s joy from her equalising goal was quickly erased, as she was given a two-minute suspension after interfering with the restart from Laura Glauser in the French goal in the centre of the court and then receiving a direct disqualification red card after displaying unsporting behaviour towards the referees after the suspension.

The shooting statistics at half-time for both teams were woeful – less than half of their shots found the back of the net either end – and it was not down especially to strong goalkeeping performances on either side, although with 13 saves, Marina Rajcic was rewarded for her performance with the hummel Player of the Match award for Montenegro.

France opened the second period with a 4:0 run to make it 16:12 (36th minute), but Montenegro captain Jovanka Radicevic pushed her side to within one (17:18), to set up an interesting final 10 minutes as the Spanish crowd willed the Montenegrins to victory.

However, with only seven strikes throughout the second period, it was not good enough for Montenegro and France made it three wins from their three preliminary group games to take a perfect record and four points into the main round where they will face Poland, Serbia and RHF for a place in the quarter-finals.

Their seven second half strikes was the second-lowest total goals in a half for Montenegro in their 40 games played at IHF Women’s World Championships. The lowest is six, also against France, back at Serbia 2013, which was also the only world championship game that Radicevic has not scored in for her country, having been an ever-present in the side since Montenegro made their competition back in 2011.

hummel Player of the Match: Marina Rajcic, Montenegro