Ahead of both the 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship semi-finals, all four team head coaches faced the world’s media at the Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg. 

IHF.info was there and brings you all what was said in advance of the two big clashes on Friday 15 December between Netherlands and Norway (17:30) and Sweden and France (20:45).

Here, France coach Olivier Krumbholz gives his views on the game against Sweden.

 

Media question: Sweden coach Henrik Signell said you are the favourites for the match – do you feel any pressure on your team?

Olivier Krumbholz: There is not any pressure at all and we are so proud and happy to be here for the final weekend. It’s really an exciting moment in this World Championship at such a big and fantastic venue which is going to be full for these final four matches.

We are so happy to play against our Sweden friends, because we have a long relationship and last year we prepared together for the EHF EURO 2016 in Sweden with them.

The Swedish team is much better than in previous years. We are expecting a tough game; a high level and it will be really tricky. I think now we are ready in this World Championship. At the very beginning we had a real difficulty, especially against Slovenia for the first game, but step-by-step we have gone up and have been having better performances.

 

Media question: Is your defence the key to why you are in Hamburg?

Olivier Krumbholz: For sure it’s a very good part of our team, we have a good defence, but Sweden do too. We are working historically in our team with this defence, we have a good 6-0 but we are also producing other types of defence so that we can adapt.

 

IHF.info: How important has the work off the court been for you as a coach, to get that team spirit?

Olivier Krumbholz: For every team, every psychological detail is important. We have been working a lot, for the past two years, on the mental aspects with a specialist in our staff. 

The most important thing is the combination between all the different aspects in the team: technical aspects, tactical aspects, physical aspects and psychological aspects. It is not only one topic which will be the most important, the most important thing is how we co-operate our staff around the players to give a global way of thinking and playing.

 

Media question: What do you think about the Swedish coach putting the pressure on you and saying you are favourites?

Olivier Krumbholz: It’s logical, it’s part of the game. Let’s play. But we were at the final of the Olympic Games so perhaps we are favourites [because of that], but it’s not a problem for me. When you are in a semi-final it is 50/50 – either team can win.