France (FRA)

Losing two major finals against Norway definitely hurt France, but “Les Bleuses” are still one of the best teams featuring at the EHF EURO 2022. With an experienced core and plenty of talent at both ends of the court, Olivier Krumbholz’s side will surely be a challenger for the gold medal.

France will be favoured in the preliminary round in a group featuring Romania, the Netherlands and co-hosts North Macedonia. If France start well, they could be unstoppable until the end of the tournament.

Only one team in history has won four Women’s EHF EURO medals in a row: Norway. The most decorated team in history won eight consecutive EHF EURO medals between 2002 and 2016. France are still third in the all-time medal table, tied with Denmark on five medals, but with two fewer gold medals than the Scandinavian nation, France’s position will not change after the EHF EURO 2022.

France have not established a dynasty, as they lost the EHF EURO 2020 final and the 2021 IHF Women's World Championship final against Norway, but they are one of the best teams in history. Olivier Krumbholz has created an amazing side that relies heavily on defence to punish their opponents.

On paper, France have what it takes to win their fourth medal in a row, despite Siraba Dembele Pavlovic and Amandine Leynaud ending their international careers. But there are still no significant issues in the squad, with only centre back Meline Nocandy out injured.

After being outplayed by Norway in the second half of the EHF EURO 2020 final, France went to the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship with big ambitions. However, they faltered once again in the final, as Norway produced one of the all-time great comebacks in women’s handball to cancel a half-time deficit of four goals.

That loss will surely haunt Krumbholz and his squad, but it can be a turning point for this experienced France side, which will try to learn from their mistakes and not collapse the way they did in 2021.