The German U17 national team won the next thriller at the World Cup in Indonesia and won the world championship title. The DFB youngsters defeated France 4-3 on penalties on Saturday (December 2nd, 2023).
Borussia Dortmund’s Almugera Kabar scored the decisive penalty for Germany. As in the semi-final against Argentina, Germany goalkeeper Konstantin Heide saved two shots from the point. Robert Ramsack, Max Mörstedt and Fayssal Harchaoui also kept their nerve and converted their penalties.
Coach Wück: “An incredible feeling of happiness”
“That was our last game together. It’s an incredibly happy feeling”said U17 national coach Christian Wück. “If you haven’t gotten to know the character of this team yet, then today.” Trailing in the penalty shootout, outnumbered from the 69th minute onwards – how the team dealt with this resistance was unique, said Wück.
And it was very exciting again. After 90 minutes the score was 2-2 after the Germans had already led 2-0 thanks to goals from Paris Brunner (29th minute) and Noah Darvich (51st). Five minutes before the end, the French equalized to make it 2-2.
Frank Hollmann, sports show, December 2nd, 2023 3:46 p.m
After European Championship now the world title
For the German Football Association, it is the first world championship title ever in this age group and the second in the youth sector. Both teams had already faced each other in the final of the European Championship in June. Back then, too, Germany won 4-3 on penalties and became European champions.
Fast start for the Germans
The German team was fully present in this seventh tournament game in front of 20,000 spectators, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and put the French under constant pressure.
The “Équipe Tricolore” game seemed sedate and slow. Germany keeper Konstantin Heide only had to really take action once when he parried a shot from Saïmon Bouabré. Heide was given preference over regular keeper Max Schmitt, who was ill in the days before the final.
Sven Pistor/Anne van Eickels, WDR 2, December 2nd, 2023 4:30 p.m
Penalty after VAR decision
The German youngsters, on the other hand, repeatedly switched quickly and played their game from the outside – they had already done this remarkably well in the previous World Cup games. After half an hour the efforts were rewarded.
France’s Aymen Sadi brought down Bilal Yalcinkaya in the penalty area. The VAR intervened and after intensive video study, the Norwegian referee Espen Eskas decided on a penalty kick. Paris Brunner converted safely – Germany led 1-0. Brunner from Dortmund was named player of the tournament after the final.
The German U17 national team celebrates after winning the penalty shootout.
The DFB boys continued to keep up the tempo and kept restricting the French in their own half. Germany went into the break with the lead, which was well deserved.
France transformed from the cabin
Germany had invested a lot in the first half, would they have enough strength in the second half with temperatures of 25 degrees in Surakarta?
The French definitely came out of the locker room with a lot more commitment, they couldn’t continue as passively as they did in the first round. But the first good action belonged to the Germans. Max Moerstedt asserted himself well on the right side, his ball landed at the far post to Noah Darvich, who shot in from a tight angle.
Yellow-red card for Winners Osawe
But the answer from the now agile French came immediately. Saïmon Bouabré reduced the score to 1:2 after a nice individual performance and a low shot. The German cover was now under constant pressure.
And things got even worse: Winners Osawe committed the second foul and had to leave the field with the traffic light card. That meant: The Germans now had to preserve their narrow lead over time because they were outnumbered. They did this with everything they had. The last energy reserves were now directed towards the defense. It shouldn’t be enough in regular playing time. After a remarkable attack, Mathis Amougou managed to equalize for France (85th).
At least the Germans survived the French’s final phase of pressure and escaped into the penalty shootout, which once again had a happy ending for Germany.