Germany is after a crime thriller in penalty shooting against the Netherlands Hockey European champion. Thies Prinz ensured the cheers at the home European Championship.
The German national hockey team of men won the final of the home European Championships in Mönchengladbach 5: 2 (0: 1) after penalty shooting against the Netherlands. Tijmen Reyenga (27th) had given the world ranking of the Netherlands. Justus Weigand (46.) equalized for Germany.
In the shootout, the Honamas with victory shooter Thies Prinz had the better nerves. “Indescribable. This is something that we wanted so much. It is totally fulfilled that it is true,” said goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg at Sportschau. Captain Mats Grambusch added: “At the end of Shootout. Now we hang the golden thing around my neck and everything is my latte!”
Grambusch: “It’s so crazy about the end of the career”
For Grambusch, the title will probably be remembered. After 14 years in the DHB jersey, he ended his career at the Honamas with the European Championship triumph-in his hometown Mönchengladbach. Which emotions broke out of him became clear after the victory: on the field, the 32-year-old broke out into tears and was celebrated by teammates, family and fans.
When asked about his feelings, he said at the sports show: “A lot has come off. I couldn’t grab it so much during the tournament that it was my last tournament. And now, as it is, it is actually about five kilometers from the place where I grew up to get the European title. Somehow spectacular and then it overturned me.” The script couldn’t have been written better. “It was so great fun. I would do everything again. I got to know so many cool people and end up winning a tournament with such a hammer team. There is little nicer in life,” he looks back again. With his club, the Gladbacher HTC, Grambusch continues to play in the hockey Bundesliga.
Netherlands with better chances
The hockey park in Mönchengladbach with almost 10,000 fans was completely sold out for the final – the demand for tickets far exceeded the available places. The spectators saw Dutch field supervised in the first few minutes. The DHB men were very deep. A German player steered a first conclusion into his own goal – but there is no own goal in field hockey and the hit did not count. A short time later, the post of Germany saved.
In the second quarter, the DHB selection slowly fought into the game. A first penalty corner brought nothing. From the game, the Netherlands continued to have the better chances, goalkeeper Jean Danneberg defused a strong conclusion. The first penalty corner for Germany’s neighbors ensured the first cheers: Reyenga converted half -high through the middle. The Honamas tried to answer, but gave Gonzalo Peillat another penalty area unused.
Weigand brings Germany into penalty shooting
The second half started with a lot of pressure for Germany, which had to and could ward off a number of penalty corners. The Honamas showed too little offensive – the Netherlands was playfully superior and acted more powerfully. However, “Oranje” no longer gained great opportunities. The performance of the European Championship host was defensive, but it went into the last quarter with a deficit.
The DHB started in the last quarter: Weigand pulled off the left circular line and the deflected shot landed in the right corner. The Netherlands’ answer almost gave the response to two 100 % opportunities. A five -minute outnumbered outnumbered Germany to leave a direct subsequent outnumbered. Nothing happened until the final siren – the shootout via penalty had to decide the final.
Prince shoots DHB to the title
The Dutch goalkeeper Derk Meijer was the first to go into the goal against Germany’s Weigand – he remained the winner and put the DHB in the lead. Afterwards, Jorrit Croon was unsuccessful. Michel Struthoff increased for the Honamas, Danneberg then parried outstandingly. Germany already had a hand on the European Championship title.
Hannes Müller added 3-0 – the Netherlands had to meet. Danneberg fouled his opponent and gave the Netherlands a seven meter that used it to 1: 3. Thies Prinz had the title win on the racket, converted confidently and let the hockey park take off. There was also no stopping in the field for the emotions.
Our sources:
- EM final Netherlands against Germany on August 16, 2025
- Interviews of the ARD reporters on site
