The French team's inability to recover from their semi-final defeat highlights the psychological impact of high-stakes matches in sports.
Sébastien Gardillou's coaching debut at the Euro has raised questions about the team's future performance and strategies moving forward.
Hungary's victory not only marks a significant achievement for them but also emphasizes the competitive nature of women's handball in Europe.
The French women's handball team may need to reassess their strategies and mental resilience ahead of future competitions to avoid repeating this pattern.
Hungary's success could inspire a resurgence in their handball program, potentially leading to stronger performances in upcoming tournaments.
The final match between Denmark and Norway will be crucial in determining the future dynamics of women's handball in Europe.
French Women's Handball Team Ends Euro 2024 Without a Medal
The French women's handball team, known as Les Bleues, concluded their Euro 2024 campaign on a disappointing note, losing to Hungary 25-24 in the bronze medal match held in Vienna. This defeat mirrors their performance two years ago in Slovenia, where they also finished fourth after a semi-final loss and subsequent defeat in the small final. Under the guidance of new coach Sébastien Gardillou, the team struggled to recover from their earlier semi-final loss to Denmark, which ended in a lackluster 24-22 scoreline.
Despite a promising start to the tournament, the French team was unable to maintain their momentum. Their earlier victory over Hungary in the group stage (30-27) raised hopes, but the team failed to capitalize on this advantage in the crucial match for third place. The match against Hungary was marked by a lack of shooting efficiency and a disjointed performance, leading to a halftime score of 13-12 in favor of Hungary. Although the French team briefly took the lead in the second half, they could not sustain it, ultimately allowing Hungary to reclaim the advantage and secure their first medal at the European Championship since 2012.
