The Argentine women's handball team could not withstand the world power of France and fell 29-17 in their second match of the Main Round III of the Women's Senior World Championship. In this as demanding as predictable duel against the current world champion and Olympic silver medalist, the team led by Mariano Muñoz fought for 60 minutes but ultimately succumbed to the hierarchy of the rival. According to the Argentine News Agency, on Monday at 11:30 (Argentine time), they will face Tunisia in search of the best possible final position within the tournament. The match showed, at times, the best defensive version of Argentina, especially in the first half, which ended 14-8 in favor of the French players. However, the saves of Valentina Menucci —9 interventions and a 33% effectiveness— allowed them to maintain resistance during long stretches of the first half. In the second half, the Argentine team again evened the game in the first minutes, with key appearances from Joana Bolling, Malena Cavo, Bono, and Gavilan. But France ended up making a difference from its bench and from the solidity of its goalkeeper Hatadou Sako, who stopped decisive shots and closed the goal for seven consecutive minutes. In the final stretch, France accelerated again towards the end and sealed the 29-17 score, which reflects the current gap between the two teams.
