They couldn’t have chosen a better time. While they had lost five times in five confrontations against the Russian pair Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova, 21st in the world, the triple French mixed champions Thom Gicquel (Red Star Mulhouse) and Delphine Delrue (Ezanville-Ecouen) finally defeated their pet peeve this Friday afternoon in Vantaa (Finland) in the 5th and last match of the France-Russia semi-final at the 2021 European Championships by mixed teams (18-21, 21-15, 21- 9).
While the two nations were tied everywhere, the world No. 13 defeated the Indian sign after a 6th opposition at very high intensity. On Wednesday, on the occasion of the 2nd group match of the France team, they had nevertheless fallen for the 5th time against Alimov and Davletova (16-21, 20-22), after having obtained a second shuttlecock. set, in a duel – it’s true – without much stake: Russia already led 3-1 when they entered the court and had finally won 4-1.
Second in group 2 behind the Russians, the French have therefore found them, by chance of the draw, in the semi-finals. With the assurance of collecting, at a minimum, the first medal in their history in the competition. After taking their revenge against Russia (3-2), they will play gold or silver this Saturday (2pm).
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Worn by their teammates
However, for the duo Gicquel – Delrue, this 6th confrontation had not started very well. Alimov and Davletova had won the first set 21-18. But the recent semi-finalists of the world circuit finals in Bangkok then raised their level, overwhelmed by the loud encouragement of their partners. After roughing up their opponents in the 2nd set (21-15), they literally outclassed them in the decisive 3rd set (21-9).
The French will thus play their very first final for the 26th edition of this Euro by mixed teams. The second in a continental competition, after the one lost by the French men’s team in 2016 in Kazan (Russia) against Denmark (1-3). Strasbourg’s Julien Maïo (at the time at ASPTTS, now licensed in Maromme) was already on the trip.
This Friday, in the 4th match, the Maïo – Ronan Labar duo could do nothing against Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov, 16th world and 2014 European champions (13-21, 10-21), against whom they had more resisted Wednesday (21-17, 16-21, 15-21).
It remains now, for the Blues, to know the identity of their opponent in the final: Denmark, triple defending champion, 17 times winner, 7 times vice-champion and once bronze medalist in the first 25 editions, or the Germany, European vice-champion 2019. Two years ago, the Danish ogre was crowned at the expense of the Germans (3-0). On Wednesday, he also disposed of it during the second day of group 1 (3-2). The verdict of this second semi-final will not be known until late in the evening.
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