Germany after final drama hockey world champion
There it is: Captain Mats Grambusch lifts the trophy to the cheers of his teammates
Which: AFP/DIBYANGSHU SARKAR
The German hockey men have become world champions for the third time. The team clinched the title in India after beating Belgium in the final. The final turned into a big drama. The decision was not made until after the penalty shootout.
Dhe German hockey men are world champions. The DHB selection defeated defending champion Belgium in the final 8:7 after a penalty shootout. After regulation time it was 3:3 in Bhubaneswar, India. As in the quarterfinals against England (4:3 nP) and in the 4:3 in the semifinals against Australia, the team caught up a 0:2 deficit and temporarily turned the game around with the goal to make it 3:2.
Niklas Wellen (28th minute), Gonzalo Peillat (40th) and captain Mats Grambusch (47th), who was voted player of the game and tournament, scored the goals for national coach André Henning’s team in an exciting and hard-fought game.
103 seconds before the end, the Germans conceded the equalizer to make it 3:3 after the third penalty corner by the Belgians within a very short time. The two finalists had already separated 2:2 in the group phase.
First major title since EM 2013
Both teams made two penalties in the penalty shootout, so the shootout went into overtime. With the happier ending for the Germans. Substitute Jean Danneberg saved a total of three penalties. “Those were the most unbelievable weeks of my entire life,” said striker Wellen, who scored in regular time and twice in the penalty shoot-out. He had also become a father during Belgium’s first game in the group stage and propelled his side late into the final against Australia.
World champions: the German hockey men after winning the drama against Belgium
Which: AFP/DIBYANGSHU SARKAR
“It was a team effort from us. The fact that we came back three times in knockout games is not luck, but shows the quality, the mentality and the character of this team,” said Wellen.
It is already the third title win for the Germans. In 2002 and 2006, the DHB selection had secured the World Cup victory. The last final was in 2010. With three World Cup titles won, Germany, together with Australia and the Netherlands, is just behind record world champions Pakistan (4). The men’s hockey team had won their last major title in 2013 at the European Championships.
