France Handball Team Triumphs Over Romania in Euro 2028 Qualifiers Despite Slow Start
France's handball team wins their Euro 2028 qualifier against Romania 34-27, overcoming early offensive struggles in a vibrant match atmosphere.
Key details
- France won 34-27 against Romania in their Euro 2028 qualifier.
- The team struggled offensively for the first 45 minutes but maintained the lead.
- Talant Dujshebaev coached his first match for France.
- Key players included Karl Konan, Aymeric Minne, and top scorer Dika Mem.
- The team now leads their qualification group and will face Latvia next.
The French national handball team opened their Euro 2028 qualification campaign with a 34-27 victory against Romania at the Arena in Aix-en-Provence. The match attracted 4,893 spectators and featured a rousing atmosphere, including an a cappella rendition of the Marseillaise and continuous crowd excitement.
Under the direction of new coach Talant Dujshebaev, France secured an early lead, going into halftime at 15-13 and extending this to 27-20 by the 50th minute. Despite the eventual comfortable margin, the team struggled offensively during the first 45 minutes, facing particularly tough resistance from Romanian goalkeeper Ionut Iancu. Nedim Remili remarked on the slow start, noting the team was still adapting to the new coaching style. Dika Mem led scoring with seven goals.
Standout French players included Karl Konan, awarded the Trophée de l’engagement, and Aymeric Minne, who scored four goals and celebrated his 200th goal for the national team. Presence from regional talent Eliott Desblancs was noted, though he was unable to play due to roster restrictions.
Pascal Bouchet, president of the Ligue Sud, expressed satisfaction with the event’s success and importance in showcasing local talent. The French squad now shares the top position in their qualification group with Poland and prepares to face Latvia next, a team regarded as less challenging than Romania.
This debut win under Dujshebaev sets an encouraging tone for France’s journey toward Euro 2028 qualification.
Source articles (2)
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lefigaro.fr Nov 5, 2026
Hand : l’équipe de France débute poussivement sa saison face à la Roumanie
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laprovence.com Nov 5, 2026
Eliminatoire Euro 2028 : l’équipe de France de handball en démonstration à Aix contre la Roumanie
Source comparison
Match attendance
Sources report different attendance numbers for the match.
laprovence.com
"The match was attended by 4,893 supporters."
lefigaro.fr
"The summary does not mention attendance."
Why this matters: One source states that 4,893 supporters attended the match, while the other does not mention attendance at all. This discrepancy is significant as it affects the understanding of the match atmosphere and fan engagement.
Halftime score
Sources report different halftime scores for the match.
laprovence.com
"The team went into halftime at 15-13."
lefigaro.fr
"The summary does not mention the halftime score."
Why this matters: One source states the halftime score was 15-13 in favor of France, while the other source does not provide a halftime score. This is a key detail that impacts the understanding of the match's progression.