World Cup final in India: Victory against Belgium in the shootout – Germany wins the Hockey World Cup

As of: 01/29/2023 6:50 p.m

Germany won the Hockey World Cup for the third time in the final against Belgium. The team came back from a 0-2 deficit and won the penalty shoot-out.

The German hockey men are world champions for the first time in 17 years. The DHB selection won the final in Bhubaneswar, India, on Sunday (January 29, 2023) 5: 4 in a penalty shoot-out against defending champion Belgium. After regulation time the score was 3:3. The Netherlands had previously secured bronze against Australia (3:1).

Belgium was already world champion in 2018 and thus traveled to the tournament as the defending champion. Germany previously won the tournament in 2002 and 2006. The hockey men had won their last major title in 2013 at the European Championships.

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It will take me a few days to realize that‘ said Germany’s Niklas Wellen, who won the Player of the Match award. “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.” Wellen had become a father for the first time during the tournament. “The last three weeks have been by far the most exciting of my life.

Halfway through the World Cup game against Olympic champions Belgium, national hockey player Niklas Wellen found out about the birth of his son. Unforgettable moments followed at the World Cup in India. Wellen would like to return home to his son with the gold medal.

Belgium takes an early lead, Germany finds an answer

Florent van Aubel (9th minute) and Tanguy Cosyns (10th) gave Belgium a quick and deserved lead. After a penalty thrown by Tom Grambusch (18′), Germany came back shortly before the end of the second quarter through waves (29′). In the third quarter, Gonzalo Peillat then equalized (41st).

The turnaround seemed complete when Grambusch scored the first German lead in the final section in the 48th minute. But Belgium also found an answer and made it 3-3 a minute before the end of regular time through Tom Boon (59th).

In the penalty shootout, Germany converted five out of seven attempts, Belgium only four. The decision came when Germany goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg saved Tanguy Cosyns’ ball.

Germany already experienced drama in the previous rounds

National coach André Henning was just that “Incredibly happy for this insane team. Now we’re on top”. Turning a 0-2 into a win three times in a row in a knockout game shows “this irrepressible will and the outstanding mental strength” his team.

The German team experienced a dramatic gameplay against Australia in the semifinals. The team equalized a 0:2 and a 2:3 to win 4:3 in the end. In the quarter-finals, Germany was 2-0 down against England, drew 2-2 and won in the shootout.

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