Status: 01/29/2023 5:29 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.
“It’s insane that we won today. I’m speechless,” said Germany’s Niklas Wellen, who was named player of the match. “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.”
Belgium takes an early lead, Germany finds an answer
Florent van Aubel (9th) and Tanguy Cosyns (10th) gave Belgium a quick and deserved lead. After a penalty from Tom Grambusch (18th), Germany came back shortly before the end of the second quarter through waves (29th). In the 3rd quarter, Gonzalo Peillat 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.
Belgium’s Antoine Kina drives the ball forward
Image: Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP
Germany already experienced drama in the previous rounds
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.
Source: sportschau.de