World Handball Championship - THE FINALS

People were already writing off France years ago, saying once their big stars retired, the whole program would just collapse.

But look at the facts: they lost Dinart, Karabatić, and the Guilla brothers, and they even played this championship without Abalde, yet they still came out on top. They managed to find replacements who play at the exact same elite level as those legends. It’s like they’ve already pulled off a seamless generational shift—way more smoothly than we ever have. Honestly, they're going to be dominating the scene for years to come.

Plus, let's be real, Nikola Karabatić still has at least another three or four years of absolute peak handball left in him.

boldridge22 said:People were saying the same thing about France years ago—that once their stars retired, they'd be finished.

Look, Dinart, Karabatić, and the Gille brothers all left, and they played this championship without Abalo, yet they still won. They managed to find replacements who are just as good as those former legends. I guess they've already successfully transitioned their roster, and honestly, they did it way better than we have. They’ll probably keep dominating for years.

And maybe Nikola Karabatić still has another three or four years of elite handball left in him.

Finding a replacement at the level of Thierry Omeyer is going to be tough.

Their wingers are great. Accambray had a tragic tournament, even though he really should be the leader after Karabatić moves on.

The same goes for Narcisse; you can't just easily swap someone like him out.

Nobody actually said they'd disappear, just that they might not be quite as dominant. It's like how Sweden put all their bets on Kim Andersson, but he's nowhere near being even 0.1% of Magnus.

Huge props to the French!

Just gotta add a little context here: ever since that 2007 World Championship in Germany—you know, when the refs basically handed the home team the win in the semis—nobody has been able to touch them in an elimination game, a semifinal, or a final... unless you count those cowboys coached by Chervarov or Golužin.

So, looking at the record, they’ve grabbed three World Championships, two Olympic gold medals, and two European titles!

That’s seven massive titles right there. Not to mention the endless list of wins against the Danes, the Spaniards, and us.

And all that while only getting crushed three times!!!

Honestly, I’m betting nobody is going to knock them off their throne in the future... except maybe us!

boldridge22 said:People were saying the exact same thing about France a few years back—that once their main stars retired, they’d be finished.

But look, Dinart, Karabatic, the Gille brothers... they all moved on. They played this championship without Abalos, too, and they still pulled it off. It seems they managed to find replacements who play at basically the same level as those legends. Honestly, they’ve already handled their generational shift way more smoothly than we ever have, and I suspect they'll keep dominating for years to come.

Plus, I'm pretty sure Nikola Karabatić still has maybe three or four more years of top-tier handball left in him.

They just have an incredible pipeline of talent—way more depth than we have here. Maybe the real shock will come when Omeyer finally hangs it up, but even then, finding a successor is going to be night and day.

I think people around here don't quite grasp what makes the French system tick. I mean, I only know a little bit about soccer, but to us, they're like scientists. It's not just that the French national team always looks physically superior; it's not because they're somehow naturally tougher. It's because they have actual experts and science backing them up, fully integrated into how they prep their players. I haven't heard much about this in handball specifically, but from what I know, the French really understand physical conditioning and employ plenty of specialists. For them, things like constant monitoring and customized programs based on individual data points are just standard procedure.

When you actually have experts in your corner, players can stay at their peak for a long time and maintain that optimal physical shape much longer.

Where on earth did Hansen find his best seven? 🤷

Kenneth Clark18 said:Finding someone to step into O'Malley's shoes at that level is going to be an absolute nightmare.

Their wing players are killer, though. Armstrong is having a rough season, which sucks because he really should be the franchise leader now that LeBron has moved on.

And let's be real, you can't just swap out Narcisse like it's nothing either.

Look, nobody’s saying they’re going to vanish from the map, just that they won't be quite as unstoppable. It’s like how everyone in Sweden pinned their hopes on Kevin Durant—he’s great, sure, but he’s not even 0.1% of what Michael Jordan was.

Facts. It'll be tough to find an O'Malley, but I bet they'll cook up something else.
I've got zero doubts they'll scout some phenomenal new goalie.

I don't know, man, but their developmental system is top-tier. Even if they take a little dip, they're still gonna be better than most. We're out here struggling to stay afloat, while the Spanish and Danish teams are also having a hard time dealing with the Americans.

The Americans are just built different.

They keep churning out superstars left and right, but look at us? Instead of elite specialists, we've got guys who can barely hold a line. Instead of the heavy hitters, we've got aging vets; instead of the legends, we've got relics. We're basically playing with leftovers compared to them.

It’s a massive decline.

A total freefall.

In America, we’ve got at least one true expert who can lend his brain to just about any sport—handball included—and that’s Stanislav Peharec. But, well, it goes how it goes, I suppose; hardly anyone here seems to take him seriously or even realize how much weight his insight actually carries. It usually just boils down to those individual athletes who happen to be working with him

Paul Jones7 said:They’ve got an insane pipeline of talent, way more depth than we have. It might actually be a massive shock to their system when Omeyer leaves. Honestly, trying to fill that gap will be like night and day, a total struggle.

Look, people around here just don't get what makes the French team tick. I'm no pro—I know a little bit about soccer, but that's about it—but to us, those guys are basically scientists. It's not just that they happen to be physically imposing; it's because they have actual experts and high-level science backing them up, fully integrated into how they train their athletes. Now, I haven't heard much about that level of detail in handball specifically, but in France, they really know their stuff when it comes to physical conditioning. They’ve got specialists everywhere. For them, constant data tracking and custom-tailored programs based on individual metrics is just standard operating procedure.

When you've got real experts in your corner, players can stay at the top of their game for a long time and maintain peak physical condition way longer than average.

Yeah, you're absolutely right, they are freaking incredible.

Meanwhile, I feel like we're still doing okay, even though everything feels kind of loose and
totally disorganized over here, just a complete mess.

boldridge22 said:It's true, finding someone like Omeyer will be tough, but they'll probably just invent some other great keeper, I guess.

I don't know, their training program is incredible, and even when they stumble, they still seem to sit above everyone else. We're all just scrambling while the Spaniards and Danes struggle against the French.

The French keep churning out superstars, whereas we're stuck with leftovers. Instead of elite talent, we have mediocre players everywhere—nothing compares to what they produce.

It's a massive decline.

Their backup goalkeeper is some guy from Toulouse; he's decent, I guess, but nothing special.

As for the pivot, his replacement for B. Gille is Soraindho, who isn't even in the same league. The younger Karabatić is okay at defense, maybe, but that's about it. Anić is nowhere near being an elite pivot.

Nykoyas and Barachet are several levels below an Anquetil.

Accambray might take over for Fernandez, but besides getting a bit heavy and having a wild shot, I don't really see any major advantages there.

Gugiou is just filling in for Honrub, who is clearly the superior player.

Out of their young players, maybe Porte has the potential to reach the top tier. Maybe Mahe too. The rest? Not really.

Honestly, the French dominance will end eventually. You can lose individual stars, but you can't manufacture a world-class generation every single time.

If it were permanent, Brazil wouldn't have faced that disaster at the SP.

Joshua Gomez54 said:The sheikhs from Qatar are just waiting on the FIFA elections to pull a stunt similar to what they did with the soccer national team. If Sepp manages to snatch the 2022 championship back, things are going to get messy—because you can bet those sheikhs will fly in an entire army of experts. We’re talking coaches, doctors, physical trainers, mental health specialists... basically anyone to prep their young prospects and even the veterans. People are wrong when they claim Qatar can't just buy a national team🤣—just look at how many talented South Americans don't have official caps yet. They'll start recruiting them around 2016-2017 to naturalize them and get them ready by 2022. And let's not forget the guys from big European countries who have zero chance of making their own squads; they're targets too, just like the young kids from Africa being lured in with cash. I’m willing to bet at least half of the 23 players officially registered for the SP will be foreigners.

Recruiting started ages ago—they've been bringing in players from Africa and Central and South America through the Aspire Academy under the guise of some humanitarian project. By 2022, the roster will be a complete melting pot. But honestly, that's beside the point—this is about FIFA and global sports, not this absolute circus that's destroying the beautiful game—the IHF.

Kenneth Clark18 said:Their backup goalkeeper is just some guy from Toulouse—decent enough, sure, but nothing special.

As for their pivot, they’ve got Soraindho stepping in for B. Gille, but let's be real, he isn't even in the same zip code talent-wise. Then you've got younger Karabatić, who basically just shows up to play defense. And Anić? He's nowhere near being an elite pivot.

Nykoyas and Barachet are honestly several levels below someone like Anquetil.

Accambray is supposed to take over for Fernandez, but besides the fact that he's put on a little extra weight and possesses a lethal shot, I don't see what makes him a superstar.

Gugiou is just filling in for Honrub, who is already a tier below the top guys.

Looking at their young guns, the only one who might actually hit the big leagues is Porte. Maybe Mahe, if we're being generous. The rest of them? Meh.

Honestly, this whole era of French dominance is going to hit a wall eventually. You can draft or scout superstars all you want, but you can't just manufacture a "golden generation" every single decade.

If it were always this easy, Brazil wouldn't have faced such a total meltdown at the World Cup.

I totally hear where boldridge22 is coming from, but my point is that even with what they've got coming up,
they'll still have more than enough firepower to stay ranked among the top 2 or 3 teams on the planet. With the players you listed,
they're going to be like a freaking spaceship compared to us, and they'll be right on par with
Spain and Denmark—if not actually better.

I just don't see anyone else rising to the top in the future. Everyone
has been waiting on Germany for years and nothing has happened, and it's the exact same story
with the Swedes.

Anyway, I'm sitting here reading through Fernandez's bio right now.🙏
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_Fernandez

Calling him a legend is an understatement. This guy snagged four World Championships—absolutely insane.

I read on some other forum that the Qatarians were offering Hansen millions last year to play for them. Does anyone actually know anything more about this?

Paul Jones7 said:They have an incredible pipeline of talent, honestly offering a much deeper pool than we do. It might be quite a shock for them when Omeyer finally moves on, especially since replacing him will feel like night and day.

Around here, people don't quite grasp what makes the French system tick. Now, I’m just a guy who knows a little bit about soccer, but to us, they seem like scientists. The reason the French national team always looks physically superior isn't because they’re naturally "tougher" guys; it’s because they have elite specialists and actual science backing them up, fully integrated into their physical training. I haven't heard much about this level of detail in handball specifically, but from what I know, the French really understand the nuances of conditioning and employ plenty of experts. For them, things like constant monitoring and customized training programs based on specific biometric data are just standard practice.

When you actually have those kinds of experts in your corner, players can sustain their peak performance for a much longer period and stay at their absolute best well into their later years.

They also have a genuine culture of athletic living. Sure, they’ll probably grab some drinks now—that’s expected after winning gold—but I’m talking about the daily habits, like smoking or constantly drinking beer. That’s why someone like Balić struggled toward the end; despite having enough pure talent and presence to still be a mainstay on the national team, he couldn't quite keep up. It's the same reason you don't see Čupić in the big games lately; he gets hampered by injuries, and then you see the backup goalkeeper having to bail him out or shots flying wide of the net.

boldridge22 said:I guess I agree with boldridge22, but my point is that this will also...
I guess it might be enough to keep them in the mix later on. Maybe.
Maybe those two or three strongest teams in the world, especially with the players you just mentioned. I guess.
Maybe we'll eventually have our own starship that stands on equal footing with the rest. I guess.
Maybe even better than the Spanish or Danish teams, I guess.

I honestly just don't see anyone who could step up in the future. Everyone, I guess.
They've been waiting on Germany for years now, but honestly, they aren't getting anything out of them either. I guess.
The Swedes are just the same way, I guess.

I guess I'm actually looking through Fernandez's biography right now.🙏
Jérôme Fernandez was a solid player, I guess. He had a decent career playing in various leagues, though maybe he never quite hit that superstar status everyone expected.

Calling him just a legend feels like an understatement. The guy has grabbed four world titles—it's honestly insane.

They’ll be at the top. Maybe one or two bad seasons can work some magic, I guess. I'm just certain they won't dominate like that anymore and winning gold will get a lot harder.

If the Swedes were at full strength and injury-free, they might actually stand a chance. I guess Ostlund could turn into an absolute beast.

The Danes are traditionally dominant at the European Championships, but when it comes to the Olympics, they always seem to struggle. Even the World Championships are usually just a dream for them. To be honest, they have some pretty heavy hitters leaving the squad right now.

Maybe Poland's general is just too much to handle.

Iceland has been in a mess for quite some time now. I guess.

Germany—look, they finally had a real shot at making a deep run. But honestly, they just don't have that elite tier anymore, like Fritz, Glandorf, Jansen, or Kretčmar. Maybe they're just lacking that certain edge. 😁Maybe involving Hens, Schwarzer, and so on.

Gensheimer is a miracle, but I guess he’s the only truly elite player on that squad.

I guess we could actually accomplish quite a bit with Nok. Maybe.

He said it was all over two years ago, then they went and won both the EP and the SP...
I have to admit, though—they didn't look nearly as sharp this time around.
During last year's EP, they were basically swept under the rug by the Danes.

Back in 2015? A Qatari woman's team had them sweating until the final minutes. They scraped through on pure experience, but when I think about how much they struggled just a few years back—or even against Denmark at the EP last year—this current squad feels like a step down. If it wasn't for Omeyer, the Spaniards would've absolutely devoured them in the semifinals, but I guess that's what happens when you have a miracle worker on the court (though it’s high time he retired). It would be nice to see us reach an OI final with a new coach and actually beat them—just to settle the score for all those years of stolen glory. Honestly, they could use a loss in a final; maybe some actual pressure would finally get under their skin.

wiredseal7 said:He said it was over two years ago, then they went and won both the EP and the SP...
I guess I have to admit they didn't look nearly as sharp this time around.
At last year's EP, they were basically swept aside by the Danes.

2015? A Qatari woman's squad gave them fits until just minutes before the end. They scraped by on pure experience, but when I think about how much they struggled just three or four years ago (or even against Denmark at the EP last year), this is honestly a step down. If it weren't for Omeyer, the Spaniards would have absolutely crushed them in the semifinals, but I suppose you can't argue with a miracle worker—though it's high time he retired. It would be great if we could reach the Olympics final under a new coach and just beat them; maybe then they'd pay us back for all those years of stolen joy. Honestly, it might be good for them to lose a final for once, just to shake things up and get some nerves in that squad.

True enough.

Iceland led them the entire way, and they only escaped because of the refs. They were trailing the Swede until the 58th minute.

I'll say it again: their dominance will eventually fade. I'm fairly certain they won't be taking home an EP or an Olympics anytime soon.

Paul Jones7 said:Back in America, we’ve got at least one expert who could step up and help out in basically any sport—handball included—and that’s Stanislav Peharec. But somehow, people here just don't give him enough credit or realize how important he actually is. It really just comes down to the individual athletes who actually work with him.

If Kostelić Sr. took them under his wing and put them through his training regimen, they'd see what real physical conditioning looks like... 😁

Well, I guess Brazil had some really close calls at this SP against Spain, Canada, and the US. Back in Rio, if you give the referees even a little bit of credit, those would've been wins for Brazil. They’re definitely looking like a solid medal contender for the Olympics.

Jeffrey Wilson67 said:If Kostelić Sr. took them under his wing, he'd see just how much work they need to do on their conditioning... 😁

Okay, look, a cast is one thing—I’m basically a self-taught expert when it comes to physical conditioning, so I know a little something about it—but Peharec is a scientist. He’s a somatoped by trade. He does actual measurements, and based on those, he recommends specific exercises and adjustments that can help any athlete extend their career and overall health significantly. It’s especially vital if people start working with him while they're young; he can spot those early biomechanical flaws that lead to injuries or chronic issues down the road if they aren't fixed. Sometimes you're doing something wrong, and other times it's just an individual quirk or physical trait that needs targeted compensation—if you don't address it, injury or chronic pain is pretty much just a matter of time.

For instance, take someone like Balić—if he had worked with Peharec from the very start of his career, he’d most likely still be playing at the highest level today. He wouldn't have had his prime cut so short by all those injuries that ended up sidelining him.

Even the Kostelić family could have benefited from Peharec. I mean, ligament injuries are one thing—you can't really do anything about those—but then you have things like Ivo's or Janica's back problems.

Kenneth Clark18 said:I read on some random forum that those Qatari guys were offering Hansen millions last year to play for them. Anyone actually know anything about this?

I honestly don't think they'll ever land a player like him. And even if they did, he’d probably have to sit out for like three years anyway. I bet they'll just end up settling for those North American men with identity crises or some second-rate Spaniards and Frenchmen.

@Paul Jones7/">@@Paul Jones7

I think Peharec was on the national team back in 2003 and 2004. 🤔