After 12 games we have our semi-finalists; Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and progress to the semi-finals later this evening.
The morning session started with Austria securing their semi-final spot with a 9-1 victory over Türkiye in Pool A. Mateusz Nyckowiak once again led the charge with a goal in the 4th minute. Maximilian Meisel and Julian Kaiser scored twice each to bolster Austria’s lead. Jakob Bauer, Adrian Fink, and Benjamin Kelner added to the tally, showcasing Austria’s attacking strength. Türkiye’s lone response came from Zeynel Öz in the 22nd minute. Tomasz Szmidt’s team demonstrated their skill and teamwork, delivering a statement performance as they confidently qualified for the next stage of the tournament.
Italy secured their place in the semi-finals with a 5-3 victory over Czechia. In the final Pool A game Italy and Czechia played a high-energy game, with both teams very aware that the stakes were high. Italy started strong, with goals from Jakub Hołosyniuk, Valerio Iossa, and Jonas Carelli giving them a 3-0 halftime lead. Czechia fought back in the second half with strikes from Jonáš Lupač and Adam Holík, narrowing the gap to 3-2. However, a penalty stroke by captain Alessandro Calzolari and a late field goal by Carelli sealed Italy’s win. Jakub Homolka scored Czechia’s final goal, but Italy’s disciplined performance ensured their progression to the next stage. Czechia will now play for their survival in the Championship division in the Pool C battle.
Denmark clinched a thrilling 6-5 victory over Poland in a dramatic Pool B game. Poland started strong with Maciej Kurowski’s early goal, but Denmark responded with a double from Magnus Thorsted to lead 3-2 at halftime. Thorsted completed his hat-trick in the second half, supported by Hector Nørgaard’s penalty stroke. Poland rallied late with goals from Henryk Wolsztyński, Emil Witczak, and Jakub Hołosyniuk, leveling the game at 5-5. However, Rasmus Westrup’s last-minute strike sealed the win for Denmark. Lasse Christensen’s side displayed resilience and determination to secure their first win of the Championships.
In the final Pool B game, the stats experts were working furiously to work out the connotations of a Croatian win, loss, or draw! Switzerland and Croatia battled to a 1-1 draw in a tense Pool B match at the EuroHockey U21 Indoor Championships, with both teams securing semi-final spots. Croatia took the lead in the 23rd minute through captain Ivan Šoić’s penalty corner. Switzerland responded in the second half when Léonard Kraxner equalized in the 32nd minute. Both sides displayed strong defensive organisation, limiting scoring opportunities in a tightly contested encounter. Jair Levie’s Swiss side and Nikola Hanzek’s Croatian team advanced to the next stage, setting the stage for exciting semi-final matchups in the tournament.
This afternoon’s games:
19 Jan
| Time | Teams | Title | Scoreline | Status | Pitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:50 | CZE – DEN | Pool C | – | Upcoming | Pitch 1 |
| 11:15 | POL – TUR | Pool C | – | Upcoming | |
| 12:50 | Loser 15 – Loser 16 | 3rd/4th Place | – | Upcoming | Pitch 1 |
| 14:15 | Winner 15 – Winner 16 | Final | – | Upcoming | Pitch 1 |
