France drawed today with Poland and won the preliminary group A of the tournament, playing without Omeyer and Guigou. In the quarter final, les Bleus will line up against Russia, on Wednesday.
If the French squad decided to not count today on Omeyer and Guigou, on the other side, Poland rested Marcin Lijewski and another regular player, Jurasik, spent only 11 minutes on the court. After a very balanced beginning, the Polish team managed to take the lead after 15 minutes and extended it until 4 goals with two minutes to go from the first half (15:11, 16:12).
After the break, the players coached by Claude Onesta equalised in the 46th minute, 22:22, and even leaded two minutes later (23:22), but they didn´t force anymore. With 22 minutes to go Bielecki made it even for 30:30 and France missed the last attack.
Anyway, les Blues are the only unbeaten team in the men´s tournament, all the others were at least one time defeated, not to mention the fact that Germany, the last World Champions, are out of the tournament. The competition goes on with the first final for Nikola and his teammates. Against Russia in the quarter final on Wednesday, there will be a matter of life of death and France is not allowed to lose.
Statistics
France - Poland 30:30 (13:16)
Frankreich: Omeyer, Karaboué (10 saves) - Dinart (1), Burdet (3), G. Gille (1), B. Gille (4), Narcisse (5), Girault (2), Karabatic (8), Kempé, Abati (2/1), Abalo (4), Guigou, Paty.
Poland: Wichary (12/1 saves), Szmal - Jaszka (2), K. Lijewski (4), Jachlewski (3), Tkaczyk (2), Bielecki (4), Siodmiak, B. Jurecki (7), Jurasik, M. Jurecki (0), Tluczynski (5/1), M. Lijewski, Piwko (3).
marian
