Germany make more history to deny Spain their own, as Argentina make it a memorable gender double
Wavre – A goal from Michel Struthoff, a sports soldier from Cologne, won a historic Men’s World Cup victory for Germany, who put in another now traditional shift when it matterred, a dogged performance to withstand Spanish dominance and then pounce with final third, military-like precision.
A game of no cards, but dealt with no lack of physical presence, Struthoff netted after a superb move in a third quarter where Spain looked as if they would take a huge stride towards a first World Cup title.
It was a classic counter punch from the defending champions, who became the first nation to claim two back-to-back titles following a 1-0 win in front of a 10,000 sell out crowd at the Belfius Hockey Arena.
Christopher Ruhr said: “I think everyone said, ‘Ah, the Germans this year, nah, they won’t be there.’ Everyone took it on the other teams, but we showed what we’re capable of and played an amazing German competition.”
This final men’s weekend had undertones of the 2006 World Cup, one where Germany claimed the first of their successive golds, a year the Dutch last failed to medal and when Spain last won a medal.
Germany repelled dominant Spain PIC: FIH/WorldSportPics
This was also the third edition running where a host couldn’t lift the men’s title after India’s two failures and Spain ousting Belgium in the Wavre pool stages.
With no Belgian or Dutch team in this finale, the match needed to be high octane for the crowd to be engaged. What the patrons saw – many sitting with their glasses of Duvel in the stands – were two armoured defences snaffling out chances and a Spanish side intent on going direct with width at a premium.
But they couldn’t find their man ‘Chefo’ Basterra, their chief goal architect in this campaign, when it mattered and a third final was lost.
Spain had plenty of ball deep in their own territory early on, all navigated with ease. Coping with that, they were exploiting central channels in the second quarter. When Germany lost rare control at the top of the D, Borja Lacalle pounced and his reverse was gloved away by JP Danneberg.
Meanwhile, any German forays into Spain’s circle were adeptly dealt with. Conversely, Andre Henning’s defence showed signs of wobbling. Or was it the pitch? The first chance of the third quarter fell to Basterra but he couldn’t connect as last man, nor could any German and the ball sailed across goal to safety.
It seemed that this final would be decided by brilliance, a card or an umpire’s decision. Gerard Clapes’ stick to ball run, deceiving two Germany midfielders in the process, nearly opened the former. It won their first PC but Marc Miralles missed.
Such opportunities needed to be taken. For a German attack on the left, started by Christopher Ruhr on the 23, found a pass to Paul-Phillip Kaufman, whose spun pass fell to Struthoff and he gleefully lifted into the net.
How do they do it time and again? Then again, this was a fourth final in a row at a major tournament for Henning, who took over in early 2022.
Now we had a final. But while Spain missed with another PC, Germany were getting closer to sealing the title. Justus Wiegand’s cute deflection from the back of his feet was saved point blank by Luis Calzado. Danneberg’s right boot then defied a fine team Spanish goal after four, one-touch moves.
“It was unbelievably tough,” Ruhr added. “I think Spain played a hell of a tournament. We always struggle against Spain. They are a tough side, and they played a really good game today, and we had the luckier end.”
Argentina double up
In the bronze play-off match, Argentina won their first medal for 12 years, with a 2-1 win, while for the Dutch it was the first time they hadn’t finished with any bounty for the same duration.
Tomas Domene’s goal, either side of two Dutch green cards, had been the sole difference between the two sides.
That was until the Netherlands were shown a 10-minute yellow card in the final quarter for the second match running for Jorrit Croon’s high stick.
The game lit up as Lucio Mendez’s angled shot was then superbly saved on the dive by Derk Meijer.
Moments later, the Dutch equalised through Floris Middendorp’s PC goal.
Koen Bijen thought he had scored a delicious backhand but for touching an Argentine body on the way through.
Matias Rey, 42 in December and playing his sixth World Cup, scored with 90 seconds left.
“Argentina is a football country and we learn from their World Cup not to give up until the end and keep fighting,” he had said before the tournament.
They did just that as they held off three Dutch PCs at the death to confirm a memorable weekend for Argentinian hockey.