How will Les Rouge et Bleus' internationals prepare for the World Cup?
With the start of the IHF World Cup 2025 just around the corner, it's time to take a look at what our Parisian internationals have on the cards before they head off to Denmark, Norway or Croatia for their preliminary round matches.
LES BLEUS in Strasbourg for the Tournoi de France
While the players on Guillaume Gille's preliminary squad list met up at the Maison du Handball for a training session on Thursday, Les Bleus will shortly be heading to Strasbourg for two friendly matches. As part of the Tournoi de France, Luka Karabatic, Elohim Prandi and Mathieu Grébille and their compatriots will take on the Czech Republic on Wednesday 8 January, before concluding their preparations two days later against Portugal.
Les Bleus will not be the first team to return to action, however, as the Netherlands, led by Luc Steins and Dani Baijens, take on Kosovo on Friday 3 January. This friendly is part of the Yellow Cup being held in Winterthur, Switzerland.
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Ferran Solé, Yahia Omar and Kent Robin Tonnesen TO face each other in the Torneo Internacional de España
At the same time as the Tournoi de France in Strasbourg, Spain will also be holding its own friendly competition, in Villarreal. Egypt and Norway will also be taking part, facing off on 8 January in a duel that will pit Yahia Omar against Kent Robin Tonnesen. Ferran Solé's Spain will then face Argentina. The following day, Norway take on Romania, before the recent African champions take on the Romanians on 10 January. The tournament hosts conclude the group phase with a clash against the Czech Republic later that evening. Despite being a preparatory tournament, there will be a final round on 11 January.
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Poland, Sweden and Denmark at home
Finally, several Parisians will be able to take advantage of a familiar environment to prepare for this World Championship. Kamil Syprzak will be back in his hometown for the 4 Nations Tournament, which will take place in Plock from 8 to 10 January. Poland have a busy schedule ahead of them, with three matches in three days against Austria, Japan and Tunisia.
Meanwhile Andreas Palicka's Sweden will face Iceland twice - on 9 January in Kristianstad, and again on 11 January in Malmö. Finally, Jacob Holm's Denmark are holding the Norlys Cup, and will take on Bahrain in Copenhagen on 9 and 10 January.
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The programme for Paris's Internationals
Friday 3 January 2025
20:30: Kosovo - Netherlands (Yellow Cup, Winterthur)
Wednesday 8 January 2025
18:00: Egypt-Norway (Torneo Internacional de España, Villarreal)
19:15: France - Czech Republic (Tournoi de France, in Strasbourg)
20.00: Spain-Argentina (Torneo Internacional de España, Villarreal)
20:30: Poland - Austria (4 Nations Tournament, Plock)
Thursday 9 January 2025
18.00: Norway-Romania (Torneo Internacional de España, Villarreal)
19.00: Sweden - Iceland (Friendly, Kristianstad)
20:30: Poland - Japan (4 Nations Tournament, Plock)
21:00: Denmark - Bahrain (Norlys Cup, Copenhagen)
Friday 10 January 2025
17:30: Denmark - Bahrain (Norlys Cup, Copenhagen)
18:00: Romania-Egypt (Torneo Internacional de España, Villarreal)
20:00: Spain-Czech Republic (Torneo Internacional de España, Villarreal)
20:30: Poland - Tunisia (4 Nations Tournament, Plock)
21:10: France - Portugal (Tournoi de France, in Strasbourg)
Saturday 11 January 2025
16:00: Sweden - Iceland (Friendly, Malmo)
(Credits: L. Valroff/PSG)