20.10.2014, 09:00
Onesta avoids any surprises and hopes for even more success

PREVIEW: With the first two matches of the Men’s EHF EURO 2016 Qualification looming, France's head coach Onesta relies on the same players that won the EHF EURO 2014

Onesta avoids any surprises and hopes for even more success

It is a list of names completely void of surprises which France head coach Claude Onesta has announced ahead of his team’s two EHF EURO 2016 Qualification matches against Czech Republic (30 October) and Switzerland (2 November).

Onesta nominated all players that won the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark at the beginning of the year and hopes that a new successful era is just about to start.

"These two games are the beginning of a new EURO cycle,” he explained. “They are also an occasion for the team to gather, and there aren't many of these days."

Xavier Barachet, PSG Handball’s right back, is the only player missing as he is suffering from a thumb injury, but this absence will give the opportunity to other players to show their skills.

"Kevynn Nyokas is now playing for Göppingen (in Germany), so I have less opportunities to see him," explains Onesta.

"Next week when the team gathers, it‘ll be a good chance to see which kind of progress he has made.

"This will also be the occasion to give younger players some court time, like Kentin Mahe. But I decided not to ask Timothey N'Guessan to join the the team as he's just been back from injury. He still needs time to recover."

Chance to shine for Afgour

The two most recent newcomers, Toulouse goalkeeper Wesley Pardin and Dunkerque line player Benjamin Afgour will, on the other hand will have the firm intention to show all of their skills.

"Of course, I won't go there overly confident, thinking I know everything, because I've still got a lot to learn," says Afgour.

"But if I can grab some playing time and maybe make the coach want to call me again, then I have to give 100 per cent on these occasions."

Speaking about the two upcoming matches, Claude Onesta says that “they are games you can't underestimate."

"Sure, Czech Republic without (the injured) Filip Jicha can't be a bad thing for us, but we'll have to be focussed against them."

Onesta also insisted that "this isn't some kind of holidays. These are games you have to win, just like the ones in your club. But I trust my players to do so, they've always been professional."

The French squad for Rounds 1 and 2 of the Men’s EHF EURO 2016 Qualification

Goalkeepers : Cyril Dumoulin (Fenix Toulouse), Vincent Gerard (US Dunkerque Grand Littoral), Thierry Omeyer (Paris SG HB), Wesley Pardin (Fenix Toulouse)

Court players: Jerome Fernandez (Fenix Toulouse), Igor Anic (HBC Nantes), Daniel Narcisse (Paris SG HB), Guillaume Joli (Wetzlar), Kevynn Nyokas (Göppingen), Samuel Honrubia (Paris SG HB), Nikola Karabatic (FC Barcelona), Kentin Mahe (Hambourg), Mathieu Grebille (Montpellier Agglomération HB), William Accambray (Paris SG HB), Luc Abalo (Paris SG HB), Cedric SORHAINDO (FC Barcelona), Michael Guigou (Montpellier Agglomeration HB), Luka Karabatic (Pays d'Aix), Benjamin Afgour (US Dunkerque Grand Littoral), Valentin Porte (Fenix Toulouse)

TEXT: Kevin Domas / ts