We meet again. As at the World Cup in Egypt two years ago and behind closed doors and at the Euro in Hungary there is a stack, in the semi-finals of the World Cup the French team will meet with Sweden. The match will take place this Friday, January 27 at 20:30.
We can only hope that the famous phrase “two without three” is not a Swedish proverb. Because the previous two times the Scandinavians sent the Blues home. In Egypt, Sweden won 32-26 ahead of the tired Blues. Rebelot 12 months ago, even if the match was tighter: 34-33 for Sweden. After that, the wards of Guillaume Gilles lost the small final twice.
After several years of scarcity, Sweden is once again the top nation in this German-invented game. After France and its six World Cup titles, Sweden and its 4 titles (1954, 1958, 1994, 1999) together with Romania are the most successful country in the World Cup. The oldest remember, for example, that France-Sweden (28-25) was the poster for the 2001 Bercy World Cup final, won by Bargeau. At the time, beating reigning world champions Sweden was a feat.
This Friday, France’s Parisians Nikola, Luka Karabatic and Elohim Prandi will find a well-known goalkeeper in front of them. Andreas Palika, the goalkeeper of the Swedish European champion, has also belonged to PSG since the start of the season. Sweden is also the team of central defender Jim Gottfridsson, one of the best players in the world at the moment. He plays in Germany, in Flensburg, and he’s great.
But the main danger that awaits the Blues around the corner is not there. No: this Friday the French team will play in the semi-finals seven against eight. This Thursday morning, the day after the victory over Germany, captain Luka Karabatich’s partners leave Poland, which has hosted them for two weeks and the start of an unnecessarily long group stage. Direction Stockholm, in other words the capital of Sweden. In the state-of-the-art Tele 2 Arena, a lush yellow wave is already waiting for a blue wave. More than 10,000 angry fans will fight between European and Olympic champions. Fortunately, the blues enjoy this hot atmosphere. They will be served.
“We have a rematch against Sweden starting right after Kentin Mahe’s victory over Germany at BeIN Sports. From now on we think of Sweden and hope for a great match. “His coach enters the fight: “We are in for an incredible shock in the game with Sweden. We are going to cook it with great enthusiasm. Until the final battle! »
Source: Le Parisien
