Another piece of the puzzle: the story behind France's third Olympic final berth

Down four goals with 15 minutes left. The attack at a 47% shooting efficiency. Defence collapsing. A deflated public, whose confidence was dented.

But somehow, France found a way to mount a comeback. It was not easy, it was not pretty and it was definitely not for the fainthearted. But once again, Olivier Krumbholz’s team is in the final of the Olympic Games, for the third time in a row.

This time in France, with over 25.000 spectators cheering for “Les Bleuses”, savouring every goal and every save made by Laura Glauser and Hatadou Sako. In a vintage match, which needed extra-time to decide the team which progresses to the final of the women’s handball competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

And once again, in a match against Sweden, that team was France.

“It's incredible. I didn't even realize it would be the third time in a row we are in the final. How happy am I? It's crazy. It's incredible. I'm so happy for the team. I'm happy for everything. I'm grateful for everything,” said France’s captain, Estelle Nze Minko, after France took the 31:28 win against Sweden in the first semi-final at Paris 2024.

France might have scored 31 goals, but at half-time, they were down two goals and had a 37% shooting efficiency. All players missed easy shots. Line player Pauletta Foppa had two shots, both missed. Same for left wing Coralie Lassource. Right wing Alicia Toublanc also missed three shots. Nze Minko herself had four misses.

It all looked to go downhill, which would have been a serious blow to France, after the men’s team exited prematurely at Paris 2024, after an incredible collapse in the quarter-finals against Germany, where they had a two-goal lead with 14 seconds left in regular time.

But this was vintage France, winning once again thanks to their defence, spearheaded by their two amazing goalkeepers – Laura Glauser and Hatadou Sako. First, Glauser finished the first half with 11 saves, keeping Sweden in check. Sako came in late in the second half to finish off the job, with eight saves and a 53% saving efficiency, including three penalties. In total, Sweden missed four of the six penalty shots they took, too much in such a close match.

“I mean, what the hell? You saw what our goalkeepers did today? Which team has such amazing goalkeepers? With them, we simply cannot lose, I think,” said Nze Minko, after the match.

If Glauser has been playing for France since 2012, already winning gold medals at the IHF Women’s World Championship and at the EHF EURO, plus a silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Sako is somewhat of a new addition in Krumbholz’s arsenal.

Born in France, she represented Senegal, until making her debut one and a half year ago for France. And at Paris 2024, she has come of age, after already making the difference in the final of the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, where France won against Norway.

She only played in five matches at Paris 2024, but made 28 saves and has a 35% saving efficiency, just one percentage point over Glauser. But against Sweden, she has been the X-factor for France, the player who changed the outcome of the match.

“I tell you, when I arrived, really at my first training camp, I had the impression that I had been here for a long time. Until I said to myself, wow, calm down. People are going to think that otherwise you're at home, calm down. But really, I was welcomed with open arms. I think that also, people are really aware of what I can bring. I was accepted as I amm because in truth, to be so expressive, to be so noisy, not everyone can accept it,” says Sako.

It is basically the story of the France team and their success over the last years, having won everything there is to win since 2018, when they clinched their first EHF EURO title. The Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 followed. Last December, they became world champions once again. And now, they are on the brink of doing it again.

In fact, this is the best start ever for France at the Olympics, having lost two matches in each of the previous two appearances when they secured a medal, at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Now they are unbeaten. Keep this record and they will win the gold for the second time in a row.

“We are happy that we won a medal. We do not know what colour it is yet. But we are there. We are unbeaten, but who will remember it if we do not win the gold? Statistically, yes, it is our best competition so far. But we need to win the last match to make it really special,” concludes Nze Minko.