Germany Wins 8th Men’s Junior World Cup, Defeating Spain in Dramatic Shoot Out
Germany extend their dominance in junior hockey, while India secures historic bronze with a 4-2 win over Argentina.
Chennai, Dec 11: Germany continued their dominance in the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup, clinching a record extending eighth title after defeating Spain 3-2 in a shoot-out. The final had ended 1-1 in regulation at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday.
In their 10th appearance in the final, Germany opened the scoring through Justus Warweg in the 26th minute. Spain responded in the 33rd minute as Nicolas Mustaros equalized. The match remained deadlocked through regulation time, leading to a tense shoot-out.
During the shoot-out, Germany missed their first two attempts but scored their last three, with crucial saves by goalkeeper Jasper Ditzer helping secure victory. Spain took an early lead through Pablo Roman, but subsequent misses by Aleix Bozal and Andrés Medina allowed Germany to triumph. Captain Ben Hasbach and Alec von Schwerin converted decisive strikes, sealing the historic win.
Germany’s coach Mirko Stenzel said, “Spain made it incredibly hard for us… the boys always believed in being able to win in the shootout, which we did. It feels amazing, overwhelming as well.”
Meanwhile, India achieved a milestone by winning the bronze medal for the first time, defeating Argentina 4-2 in the third-place playoff. The hosts staged a spectacular comeback, scoring four goals in eleven minutes to secure third place, adding to India’s previous golds (2001, 2016) and silver (1997).
The 13-day tournament, held in Chennai and Madurai, showcased rising talents in junior hockey, with Germany solidifying their reputation as a powerhouse in the sport.
