Germany won the FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 after defeating formidable Belgium in a nail-biting final match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
In regulation time, the score was 3-3. Both teams were tied 3-3 in the subsequent penalty shoot-out. Finally, Germany defeated the Red Lions 2-1 in sudden death to win the high-stakes match and ultimately the title.
The first half featured a fierce battle between the two teams. Germany went all out in the fifth minute to get back-to-back penalty corner chances, but Belgian defenders foiled those attempts. Belgium immediately retaliated, with Van Aubel Florent opening the scoring in the ninth minute with a brilliant field goal.
They maintained their lead as Cosyns Tanguy deflected a flick from the left flank into the bar to double the defending champions’ lead. Germany attempted to make a comeback in the final quarter of the first quarter, but the game ended 2-0 in favour of the Red Lions. Belgium stamped their authority in the second quarter as well, earning their first penalty corner in the 15th minute but failing to capitalise. Germany came back strongly in the 18th minute to earn a penalty stroke. However, Belgium’s goalkeepers stood firm to deny the opposition an easy scoring opportunity. In the 28th minute, they earned back-to-back penalty corners. Niklas Wellen converted the last one to make the score 1-2.
The third quarter saw a nail-biting battle between both teams, and as a result, Oruz Timur from Germany and Nicolas De Kerpel received green cards. In the 40th minute, Germany earned their fifth penalty corner. Gonzalo Peillat, a penalty corner specialist, scored the equaliser with aplomb. Mats Grambusch’s fierce hit from the left flank of the board in the 47th minute broke the deadlock, making it 3-2 in Germany’s favour. The Red Lions gave it their all with an all-out attacking instinct, earning two penalty corners in the 57th and 58th minutes. The last one was converted by experienced Tom Boon, bringing the score to 3-3.
The game ended 3-3 in regulation time, and in the ensuing penalty shoot-out, both players scored three goals out of five chances. Germany eventually pipped Belgium to the coveted title in a sudden death match.
