Handball: Saint-Raphaël wants to seal its qualification for the European League in the best possible way

The European Handball Federation (EHF) flags were raised this week at the Jean-François Krakowski Sports Hall. For their first home game this season, the Saint-Raphaël Var handball players have the opportunity to confirm their qualification for the European League group stage, after the first-leg victory at Mors-Thy (45-32). "We want to win in front of our fans, you know! It's forbidden to lose at home," insisted Micke Brasseleur. "It's important for us." Around fifteen supporters were present when the bus arrived on Sunday, a sign of the public's impatience, six years after the last European outing at JFK.

"We're going to be facing guys who are playing for their lives."

Even if the best of the two matches qualifies, no one at SRVHB seems ready to give up the victory, even if the goal average is preserved. "We have to play as if it were 0-0," Benjamin Braux says.

Accustomed to European matches with Nîmes, Aix and Constanta, Micke Brasseleur remains on his guard: "I've already experienced some very complicated return matches at home. We're going to be facing guys who are playing for their lives. They've tried to get into Europe several times and haven't succeeded. They're going to want to go out in the best possible way. There's little chance we'll score another 13 goals against them."

A successful victory could be more than just a result. "We want to send strong signals to other teams, in the French league or in Europe," warns the right-back. "To show that we are a serious team with real ambitions."

A work match?

Starting with such a gap at kickoff could allow for testing in an official context. Ideally, three days before the first matchday of Starligue (at Cesson-Rennes) and a week before hosting PSG.

"To perform, we set ourselves rules such as shooting success, the number of turnovers, and efficiency in defensive withdrawal," the coach lists. "I think we could have done better (in the first leg) . Being consistent in high performance is a real area for improvement."

The team, without Arthur Vigneron (rested for this match), tested several situations in training. "We're working on 7 (players) against 6, sometimes on 1-5 (alignment with an advanced defender)," explains the coach. "We'll use it if it can help us win."

A young Danish guard worth a look

Last Saturday, the Danes' faces were grave, commensurate with their disappointment. This Tuesday, during the second matchday of the Herre Handbold Ligaen, Dennis Bo Jensen's players won in the final moments of the match against Ribe-Esbjerg (30-29). A victory that should put a smile back on their faces, as it was their second league victory in as many matches.

Their young talents are expected to shine. In the first leg, right-back Gustav Sandbæk Sunesen (born in 2006) stood out, scoring six goals (mostly from 9 meters). As did pocket-sized right-winger Malthe Rolighed Bull (22), who scored 4 goals out of 4.

"They're a very good team that lacks a little experience. They have great potential," confirms the right-back. "They reek of handball... Scandinavian culture!"

Like this summer's two U21 world champions lined up for the first leg: Kristoffer Vestergaard (right back) and Anton Houe (center half). Danish captain Henrik Toft Hansen said he was coming to spend "a weekend in the sun" or rather under the spotlight for the younger players.