Germany’s hockey women reached the semi-finals at the home European Championships in Mönchengladbach. The team of national coach Janneke Schopman gave a 0-0 against Ireland in the crucial duel to move on to the co-round behind the dominant Olympic champion Netherlands. In the preliminary round, the Olympic fourth will meet Belgium on Friday (8:00 p.m./Magenta Sport) like two years ago.
The selection of the German Hockey Association (DHB) was extremely difficult at around 30 degrees against disciplined Irishes. In the first quarter, goalkeeper Julia Sonntag saved her team with a kept seven meter (9th) from the deficit, and then Germany also had to survive some more difficult situations. The Danas remained largely harmless.
After the opening victory over France (4: 1) and the clap against the Netherlands (1: 5), a defeat with two goals would have meant the historical end of Germany. A German selection of women has never missed the KO phase in the European Championship, which has been held since 1984.
In the semifinals there is now a new encounter with the Belgians, who were inferior to Germany two years ago in the round of the last four. In order to move into the final, an increase in performance will be necessary.
The German men are already fighting for the final on Thursday. At 8:00 p.m. (Magenta Sport), the world champion from 2023 meets the shaped Spaniards, against whom the Honamas recently lost three times in a row.