602
The Metz Handball U17s competed this week in the first edition of the EHF Youth Club Trophy. Assessment of this first European experience.
It’s a crazy experience that the young U17s from Metz Handball in Ankara have just had. The only French representatives for the first edition of the EHF Youth Club Trophy, they were able to discover the intensity of an international competition that could be described as a “Junior Champions League”.
Thursday, opposed to the Turkish team of Kepez for their first match, the players of Edgar le Denn and Samuel Many fought a long battle, holding the +1 then conceding a slim gap in the first half. It was ultimately during the second period that everything was decided. Caught up in the challenge and sometimes physically abused, the yellow and blue team made more mistakes and saw the gap grow to their disadvantage. Symbol of the ambient stress, two consecutive solo counterattacks which did not find the net. Ultimately, the final score did not do justice to Metz’s abilities, in a match which did not seem out of reach, with a victory for Kepez 32 Ã 23.
A classification match against Odense to end the adventure
Accustomed to playing once a week and training every three days, the Metz Handball U17s had to quickly turn around to play the third place match against the Odense team, Friday at midday. With a rather convincing game at the start of the match, the French gave themselves a two-goal gap before completely stalling. Paralyzed, they regained their senses four minutes from the end of the period with nine goals behind to end despite everything with a good sequence and a cannon shot from Jeanne Hannen, Metz’s top scorer, from long distance.
Despite a few flashes, the surge did not continue in the second half as Odense skillfully managed their lead. In a game that was sometimes disjointed on both sides, the coin rarely fell on the Metz side. Final score in favor of Odense 24 Ã 34.
And now ?
Overall more lacking in “Handball IQ” and competitive rhythm than in intrinsic qualities throughout this tournament, it is certain that the young players of Metz Handball will regret not having been able to return from Ankara with at least one victory in their baggage. But the sporting and human experience gained from this trip abroad to compete against their counterparts from major European clubs should last longer in memories than the simple taste of defeat.
From now on, the Metz U17s will return to the national championship with a derby away to Yutz on April 11. This will be followed by a trip to Seine et Marne on April 18 to conclude with a final home match on May 3 against Entente Sud 93.
Metz statistics
Here are the cumulative statistics of the two matches for the Metz delegation at the EHF Youth Club Trophy.
Babysitters
- Juline Hittinger: 8 saves on 57 shots
- Lise Thory : 4 parades on 21 tirs
Field players
- Jeanne Hanen: 20 goals on 30 shots
- Mila Quentin : 5/9
- Lina Soubeir: 4/5
- Sohane Atmani: 4/5
- Janelle Ludwig: 4/6
- Zoé François : 3/5
- Nila Anduse : 2/5
- Caroline Gerard : 2/6
- Nina Lenarsic : 1/4
- Sofia Denysova: 1/4
- Juliette Losson 1/4
- Léa Halter 0/1
- Elisa Ghisu
- Malia Walczak
Crédit photo : EHF
