It was Germany first who put the game on a knife’s edge by erasing a two-goal deficit to level it 2-2 and then go into the lead at 3-2. It was then the turn of the defending champions.
They did it! The COMEBACK KINGS of #HWC2023 are crowned WORLD CHAMPIONS 💪Insane scenes after the win… https://t.co/OV82lVVxcy
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) 1675007249000
ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD 👑Congratulate Die Homonas on their finale victory over #HWC2018 Champions @BELRedLions!… https://t.co/4ATg1pe0uA
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) 1675007197000
The Red Lions’ refusal to give up earned them a penalty corner and Gonzalo Peillat once again came to the party to make it 3-3 and push the game into a shootout.
@watchdothockey Full Time: GER 3-3 BELShoot-out:BEL : ✅ ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌GER : ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌✅ ✅GERMANY ARE THE CHAMPION… https://t.co/tcaqm2XFeU
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) 1675006322000
Niklas Wellen is your Player of the Match for scoring two penalties and a penalty corner to become World Champions… https://t.co/Qc06aPB5Ko
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) 1675007574000
(AFP Photo)
But that wasn’t enough to give the 15th edition of the World Cup its winner. It remained 3-3 in the shootout as well, until Tanguy Cosyns missed for Belgium in sudden death to see the Germans, clad in black shirts, running towards goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg.
Had Belgium won, they would have been the fourth team to successfully defend the title after Pakistan (1978 and 1982), Germany (2002 and 2006) and Australia (2010 and 2014).
More to follow…
