Germany meet France in the World Cup final.

2023.12.15

After a day of thrilling semi-final play in Kuala Lumpur, Germany will meet France for gold, while India will face Spain for bronze in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup.

Germany was clinical with their few chances and overcame India’s statistical advantage to move to the final with a 4-1 triumph. In the other semi-final of the day, France defeated Spain 3-1 with a sensational third quarter.

Meanwhile, in the battle for the lower places, the Netherlands beat dethroned defending champions Argentina 1-0 to set up a fifth-place playoff against Australia who beat Pakistan 7-5. That means Argentina and Pakistan will play off for seventh spot.

Here is how all four matches played out on Day 10…

Argentina vs Netherlands (Full-Time Score: 0-1)

The Netherlands made the most of their opportunities and defended well to beat Argentina 1-0.

Australia vs. Pakistan (Final Score: 7-5)

In their 7-5 triumph against Pakistan, Australia controlled the third quarter. The Australians got off to a good start, with Nathan Czinner scoring in the third minute with a well-placed field goal. Pakistan’s Abdul Qayyum leveled the score, but Australia led 2-1 at halftime thanks to a drag flick by Cambell Geddes.

Brodee Foster and Umar Mustafa traded field goals to open the third quarter before Australia gained control with three goals in four minutes, Geddes completing his hat-trick with two penalty corners and Czinner adding a field goal. Foster scored a penalty stroke early in the fourth quarter for a 7-2 advantage. Pakistan battled valiantly, scoring field goals from Ahtisham Aslam and Qayyum, as well as a penalty corner from Sufyan Khan, but it was all too late.

Player of the match Nathan Czinner reflected on bouncing back after losing in the quarter-finals: “It was a tough one, very disappointed after our quarter-final, but I think it’s a great effort from the boys just to come back and really show how we play.”

Germany vs India (Full-Time Score: 4-1)

Germany defended all 12 of India’s penalty corners and scored both of their own in a nail-biting 4-1 victory to go to the final. India controlled the first half, but Germany scored first, with Ben Hasbach pouncing on a stray ball after two stops by the Indian defense. Sudeep Chirmako responded for India, collecting loose balls and finishing with a devastating reverse stick stroke. The Germans then withstood intense pressure, defending 10 penalty corners in the first half before scoring from their first on the stroke of halftime, Hasbach obtaining a slight overhead deflection for an improbable 2-1 lead.

The third quarter was much more competitive. India missed their 11th penalty corner, while Germany’s Paul Glander converted their second. In the fourth quarter, captain Matteo Poljaric masterfully worked the baseline before setting up Florian Sperling, who took two efforts to defeat goalie Shashikumar Mohith Honnenahalli.

France vs Spain (Full-Time Score: 3-1)

France advanced to the final with a hard-fought 3-1 victory against Spain. Brieuc Delemazure’s drag flick was bulleted through goalkeeper Jan Capellades in the second minute. Jules Verrier nearly scored again, but the ball struck his body on the goal line. At opposite sides of the field, Marius Clement and Capellades made fine penalty corner saves, while Spain’s Oriol Bozal was given a 10-minute ban for an off-the-ball incident. On the first quarter hooter, Aleix Bozal fired a low drag flick to tie the game. The second quarter was close, and the sides headed into the halftime break tied at 1-1.

France took the lead again early in the third quarter, with the umpire setting up a nice advantage in the circle for Stanislas Branicki to slap into an open goal, with keeper Capellades called off his line to stop an assault. Louis Haertelmeyer then increased the lead by out-touching the final defender and blasting it in. Spain had many chances in the last quarter but were unable to capitalize, as the seventh-ranked French celebrated their position in Saturday’s final.

“The feeling is incredible,” said French captain Gaspard Xavier, who was named player of the match. We lost in the semi-finals two years ago, so we wanted to go to the final today, and we did, so I believe it’s a really wonderful thing and fantastic cooperation.”

FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Malaysia 2023 – 14 December 2023

Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium, Kuala Lumpur

Result: Match 37

Argentina 0-1 Netherlands

Player of the Match: Luke Dommershuijzen (NED)

Umpires:  Hideki Kinoshita (JPN) and Bevan Nichol (NZL)

Result: Match 38

Australia 7-5 Pakistan

Player of the Match: Nathan Czinner (AUS)

Umpires:  Benjamin Peters (USA) and Jonathan von Hoesslin (RSA)

Result: Match 39

Germany 4-1 India

Player of the Match: Ben Hasbach (GER)

Umpires:  Zeke Newman (AUS) and Nick Bennett (ENG)

Result: Match 40

France 3-1 Spain

Player of the Match: Gaspard Xavier (FRA)

Umpires:  Hyosik You (KOR) and Nazmi Kamaruddin (MAS)

@charith