France fought back three times to defeat Austria 4-3 and earn fifth place overall, their best finish since 2005 in the men’s EuroHockey Championship.

They trailed 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 but a hat trick from Etienne Tynevez saw the French prevail.

Austria came into the game needing a three-goal win to grab a place in the 2025 Euros and they started well with Michael Körper nailing a penalty corner in the fifth minute.

Tynevez levelled for 1-1; a Leon Thörnblom rebound made it 2-1 and then Tynevez tied it up once more at 2-2. Körper, though, had the Red Capricorns in front at half-time with a crisp strike from the left of the circle.

It stayed that way until Simon Martin-Brisac’s thunderous reverse-stick shot hit the top corner with 20 minutes to go. And Tynevez won the day with a lovely touch to a knee-high cross to win the game.

The result sees France finish fifth and Spain in sixth to join the qualifiers for the 2025 men’s EuroHockey Championship. Austria (seventh) and Wales (eighth) will have to play in the qualifier events in 2024.