INDIA: The 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup final was a nail-biting match between Germany and Belgium, with the final score ending in a 5-4 victory for Germany. The win marks German team’s third World Cup in the tournament’s history.
Germany vs Belgium
The match started with Belgium scoring the first goal, with Florent Van Aubel half-volleying the ball towards the keeper’s left-hand side.
However, Germany quickly fought back with a penalty corner opportunity but could not convert. Belgium continued to press, with Tanguy Cosyns deflecting a shot past the German goalkeeper, Stadler, to increase their lead to 2-0.
The German team continued to battle in the second quarter to get on the scoreboard. They had another penalty corner opportunity but were once again unable to convert.
Three German players in the corner tackled Belgium’s Cosyns, but he dodged the attack and pushed the ball past to keep the lead for Belgium.
German’s persistence paid off as they finally scored their first goal of the match in the final moments of the second quarter, with Niklas Wellen on target after dribbling the ball in the air and smashing it past the Belgian goalkeeper, Vanasch.
In the second half, Germany continued to push forward. Their efforts paid off as they scored twice quickly with goals from Gonzalo Peillat and Mats Grambusch, who executed a reverse stick flick diagonally towards the goal.
The goal put Germany in the lead for the first time in the match, but they could not hold on to their lead until the final whistle. Belgium quickly equalised with a goal from Tom Boon, who smashed the ball past the left of Stadler.
The match ended in a penalty shootout, with Germany’s Wellen, Muller, and Prinz scoring, while Aubel, Cosyns, and Kina scored for Belgium as the teams tied in the shootouts 3-3.
The penalty shootout proceeded to sudden death, where Wellen and Prinz scored for Germany. Wegnez scored for Belgium before the German goalkeeper saved Cosyns’ shot.
The goalkeeper’s save secured the victory for Germany, and they were crowned the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup champions.
It’s worth noting that this was the first time that Germany and Belgium faced each other in the tournament’s final, and Tom and Mats Grambusch are siblings.
The match was full of twists, turns, and drama, with both teams showing great determination and sportsmanship.
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