France arrives at the European Championships in Croatia with no big pressure regarding qualifications for the following tournaments since it is one of the rare European teams that has qualified both for the World Championships in Doha and the Olympic Games (along with Hungary and Greece).
However, head coach Florian Bruzzo decided to make no experiments and to bring a squad composed of experienced players.
Only two players will make their debuts at the big competitions – goalkeeper Arshak Hovhannisyan (who played in the 2022 World League Super Final) and 20-year-old Enzo Nardon.
Michael Bodegas, who played for Italy between 2015 and 2021, is finally back to the French team. The European Championships will be his first big tournament with France’s cap after the 2014 continental championships in Budapest.
France didn’t achieve good results during the preparations. It played at two tournaments – the Sardinia Cup and the Malta Christmas tournament. It suffered four losses (to Montenegro, Australia, and twice to Italy), beating only the Netherlands and Malta. However, a painful 3:20 defeat to Italy yesterday in Malta can be a shock therapy before the European Championships.
France at the 2024 European Championships
Goalkeepers: Arshak Hovhannisyan (Marseille),Hugo Fontani (Strasbourg)
Field players: Michael Bodegas, Alexandre Bouet, Ugo Crousillat, Roman Marion-Vernoux, Pierre Frederic Vanpeperstraete, Thomas Vernoux (all Marseille), Emil Bjorch, Remi Saudadier (both Noisy-le-Sec), Charles Canonne, Mehdi Marzouki, Duje Zivkovic (all Tourcoing), Enzo Khasz (Pays d’Aix), Enzo Nardon (Taverny 95).
France opens the European Championships with a match against Montenegro in Group A in Dubrovnik. The remaining two opponents in the group are Croatia and Spain.
