The French men’s handball team began its qualification campaign for the 2028 European Championship with a 34-27 victory over Romania on Thursday in Aix-en-Provence. While the result secured an opening win for the side under new coach Talant Dujshebaev, the performance was characterized by a lack of offensive fluidity that persisted for much of the match.

France currently sits tied at the top of the group standings alongside Poland. Despite maintaining a lead throughout the contest, the French squad struggled to establish a consistent rhythm, particularly during the first 45 minutes of play. The hosts faced resistance from the Romanian defense, led by goalkeeper Ionut Iancu, who recorded 8 saves on 36 attempts.

Remili Addresses Offensive Restrictions Under New Coach

The match served as a significant test for the team’s transition to new tactical systems under Dujshebaev. Nedim Remili, speaking after the match, noted that the team’s offensive output remained somewhat restricted as players adjusted to the new coaching staff.

“We took time to build our match, which was also the goal: a match is played over 60 minutes, that’s what the coach asked of us,” Remili said. “Obviously, we were still a bit bridled in certain movements, a bit hesitant. We have a new coach, a new way of playing; it’s normal that it results in matches that are a bit sluggish.”

France’s attack relied heavily on Dika Mem, who led the scoring with 7 goals on 11 attempts. Hugo Descat, returning to the squad after missing the previous two training camps, contributed 4 goals on 5 attempts, including a successful penalty shot. However, Descat was unable to convert a critical face-off against Iancu in the 43rd minute that would have extended the French lead to five goals.

Goalkeeping Rotation Helps Secure Late Victory

The French coaching staff utilized a rotation in the goal throughout the 60 minutes. Valentin Kieffer finished the match with 4 saves on 15 shots. Charles Bolzinger, who started the game, was substituted after 15 minutes of play but returned for the final quarter of the match, recording 2 saves on 17 shots.

The score remained competitive until the final ten minutes, when a decisive 3-0 scoring run allowed France to pull away and establish an eight-goal advantage at 29-27. This late surge allowed the team to close out the match without facing a deficit or significant pressure from the Romanian side.

Next Steps in the Qualification Schedule

Following the result in Aix-en-Provence, the French team is scheduled to travel to Latvia for their next qualification fixture this Sunday. Latvia is considered an opponent even less reputable than Romania, providing an opportunity for the squad to refine their offensive structures before proceeding in the Euro 2028 qualifying cycle.