Russia-based Rostov-Don centre back Grace Zaadi Duena knows a thing or two about playing and winning in handball at the very top, it was just a shame for RHF on Monday night at the Palau d’Esports in Granollers that she was on the opposite side of the court, playing against them, for France.
 
In a powerful demonstration of their medal credentials, France ran rampant, seeing off their opponents with a five-goal victory, 33:28 to make it six straight wins at Spain 2021 alongside Denmark and Spain.
 
MAIN ROUND GROUP I
RHF vs France 28:33 (12:17)
 
The 16 players for each side named by both the RHF and France for this repeat of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 gold-medal match featured 16 players who had graced the court in Japan last August.
 
Five of them were with the RHF side, while 11 were with France and it was the Grace on court which made the difference – in this case, Grace Zaadi Duena. The French centre back is a once-in-a-generation player, able to lead the beating heart of Olivier Krumbholz’s side, make multiple decisions in a blink of an eye and bring out large, uncontrollable smiles from her whole squad, including the coaching staff.
 
She is supported by a wealth of experience and talent of course – 2009 IHF World Handball Player of the Year Alison Pineau and multiple other award winners and medallist across the world – and it was that squad mixture which saw off Liudmila Bodnieva’s new-look team.
 
Both coaches made changes from their last matches with Bodnieva replacing young line player Kseniia Zakordonskaia by the new addition to the squad, Irina Korneeva, normally a left back, but seen on the line against the French attack, with the recovered Anastasiia Illarionova able to return to her role, following an injury scare to her ankle. Krumbholz brought back Laura Flippes, herself recovered from injury and new addition Orlane Kanor with Kalidiatou Niakate and Orlane Ahanda removed.
 
RHF took an early 6:3 lead (9th minute), but France drew level thanks to a wonderful Pineau long-ranger (6:6, 12th minute) and Bodnieva took an early time out (14th minute), but this seemed to have a negative effect as France went ahead (9:6). A 3:0 run just before the end of the half saw a double from Pauletta Foppa and France had the impetus going into the second period (17:12).
 
The pace of the game was relentless in the second half with fans inside the arena witnessing what was likely the fastest-paced game seen in the 1992 Olympic Games venue since the start of Spain 2021.
 
28:22 ahead with 10 minutes to go, France took their foot off the accelerator a little and the young RHF players pushed on, taking a 5:3 run to the final buzzer.
 
So, the saga between these two sets of players continues and they could meet again later this week in the final, but for now, Zaadi Duena and teammate Beatrice Edwige can take bragging rights back to Rostov-Don and look forward to a quarter-final against Sweden, while RHF will face Norway in the last eight.
 
hummel Player of the Match: Pauletta Foppa, France