NANTES, France — Handball, virtually unknown in the United States as a team game, is one of the fastest-growing and most ostentatious sports in Europe, often drawing more fans than basketball. No one, though, loves it quite the way the French do.

Moments before the recent Tournoi International’s final between Macedonia and France, the European and Olympic champion, the arena here dimmed to total darkness as an ominous Gothic-style soundtrack boomed. Two cannons fired flames eight feet into the air. Close to 11,000 fans screamed. And that was just for the entrance of the two referees.

The teams followed, to the same fanfare. But the loudest cheer of all was reserved for the oldest player: Thierry Omeyer of France, who plays goalkeeper, one of the most frustrating and demanding positions in all of sports.

“When I see a handball game, I think it’s crazy to play in goal,” Omeyer, 38, said. “But then I get into the zone and then I am not afraid anymore. I think I’m not crazy anymore.”