2023-11-21 18:28:25
The smile did not leave Grace Zaadi’s face during the hour and a half of training, this Tuesday, at the handball house in Créteil (Val-de-Marne). Delighted to return to the French team after eight months of forced break. Injured in the left foot in March 2023 during a friendly match against Sweden, the center-half was exempt from the summer training course in Capbreton (Landes), in order to rest.
Then, it was a partial rupture of the aponeurosis of the right foot, which occurred on September 23 with her Romanian club CSM Bucharest against Györ in the Champions League, which deprived her of the return of the Olympic champions in mid-October as part of qualifying for Euro 2024.
“I feel very good, I am very happy to be here. My foot is fine. I’ve resumed training with the girls, I’m happy, the staff is there to tell me: “Grace? Don’t get excited.” We mustn’t forget that I went two months without playing, it’s a bit the hardest for me because I want to do it straight away. We have to gradually build up our weight,” said Grace Zaadi this Tuesday after collective training.
One of her first since her injury since, as she explains: “Collectively, I resumed with the France team (Monday). I’m on schedule. As someone who has not been injured much in my career, I have a special relationship with injuries: I need to understand everything. But I have confidence with the medical staff (of the Bleues) so it was with no apprehension that I resumed training with the French team even if in Bucharest I had resumed little things but not 6 against 6.”
In fact, the leader of the Bleues should not have significant playing time during the French tournament in Caen, where the Olympic champions will complete their preparation for the World Cup (November 29-December 17 in Norway, Sweden and Denmark), against Senegal on Friday and South Korea on Sunday.
Océane Sercien-Ugolin replaced by Déborah Lassource
Océane Sercien-Ugolin is also treating a few injuries which have deprived her of a match for three weeks with her Norwegian club Vipers Kristiansand, three-time reigning European champion. “I have a muscle injury (thigh) which came gradually, and a hematoma in the adductor caused during training,” explains the international.
This Tuesday, she did not take part in collective training. “I have resumed running, weight training but not yet handball training,” explains the right back, also taken care of by the Bleues medical staff. “We are currently evaluating so that I can resume as quickly as possible. » Seeing her on the field for the French tournament seemed unlikely. Confirmation was made this Tuesday at the end of the day, since the decision was taken by Olivier Krumbholz, the coach, to call Déborah Lassource (Paris 92) in his place. “Due to two muscle injuries, Océane is not yet able to play handball again. She will benefit from external care and will follow a re-athletics protocol from today” specified the French Handball Federation.
Due to the uncertainty around Sercien-Ugolin, Krumbholz had retained Orlane Ahanda (Nantes) from the start of the training to support Laura Flippes in the right-back position. This Tuesday, the CSM Bucharest player suffered a scare in her right knee in a slip during training, which she was able to resume after a spell in the hands of the physiotherapists.
The medical staff, Béatrice Edwige, is also attending this week in Créteil. However, the pivot was not selected for the French tournament, Olivier Krumbholz being keen to give a chance to Sarah Bouktit, who is making an excellent start to the season with Metz. Having undergone surgery on her right knee on December 26, 2022, Edwige resumed with her Hungarian club, Ferencvaros at the start of the school year. She takes advantage of the international break to take stock with the French medical staff who are always attentive.
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