Thrilling hockey final at the World Cup in India! Germany conceded the equalizer against Belgium seconds before the end. In the penalty shoot-out, DHB keeper Jean-Paul Danneberg becomes a hero. Germany wins the World Cup for the first time in 17 years. The game to read.
0: 1 van Aubel (9th), 0: 2 Cosyns (10th), 1: 2 waves (29th), 2: 2 Peillat (41st), 3: 2 Grambusch (48th), 3: 3 Boon (59.)
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With support from home and great confidence, the German hockey men are looking forward to the first World Cup final since 2010. “Our goal hasn’t changed. We’ll definitely get the pot,” said captain Mats Grambusch before the final against Belgium on Sunday (2:30 p.m. / DAZN). After two dramatic quarter and semi-finals with victories against England and world number one Australia, defending champions Belgium are now to be dethroned and the first World Cup victory in 17 years to be achieved. “I very much hope that the team will take the last step and that we will then hopefully get used to not having to wait so long for the next final,” said DHB sports director Martin Schultze.
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There is also local support from home. The father of striker Niklas Wellen, who scored the 4-3 semi-final winner against Australia, has surprisingly arrived in India to support his son. The team’s top scorer became a father in the preliminary round during the match against Belgium (2:2). “He booked a ticket after the quarter-finals and got on the plane,” said Niklas Wellen.
For national coach André Henning and eight other players in the team, things could come full circle on Sunday. Ten years ago, the DHB U21 coach at the time won the World Cup with a large part of today’s team, also in Bhubaneswar. “Maybe it’s a strength that many players have known each other for a long time. I’ve noticed this spirit in the team for a long time,” said the coach.
“The connection is already damn close. We’ve known each other for ages. That gives you a certain stability and calmness,” agreed striker Wellen, who has scored six goals in the tournament so far – the first of them in the preliminary round match against Belgium.
