Germany will face France in the men’s Junior World Cup gold medal match on Saturday to conclude an exhilarating competition in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany were clinical with their limited opportunities and overcame India’s significant statistical dominance to advance to the final with a 4-1 victory. In the other semi-final of the day, France produced a spectacular third quarter to set up a 3-1 win over Spain.
For Germany, it was a story of penalty corners as they defended all 12 of India’s and scored both of their own to progress. India dominated the first half but Germany opened the scoring, Ben Hasbach pouncing on loose ball after a scrambling Indian defence made two saves.
Sudeep Chirmako hit back for India, cleaning up loose ball and finishing with a blistering reverse stick shot. The Germans then absorbed immense pressure, defending 10 penalty corners in the half before scoring from their first on the stroke of half time, Hasbach getting the faintest overhead deflection for an unlikely 2-1 lead.
The third quarter was much tighter. India failed off their 11th penalty corner while Germany’s Paul Glander made no mistake with their second.
The Germans sealed the game in the final quarter, captain Matteo Poljaric working the baseline skillfully before setting up Florian Sperling who needed two attempts to beat goalkeeper Shashikumar Mohith Honnenahalli.
An elated Hasbach, said: “It was just an incredible game. We didn’t come into the game as strong as we did against Argentina. But we stayed strong in our penalty corners and our defence and then you win those semi-finals, now we’re in the final, it’s just amazing. We’re loving it here, we’re playing our best hockey, and we want to keep going and win the World Cup.”
France continued their perfect run in the competition to date with a 3-1 win over Spain. Brieuc Delemazure put them in front in the second minute when his drag flick went through goalkeeper Jan Capellades.
The Spanish drew level on the first quarter hooter, Aleix Bozal firing in a low drag flick. The second quarter remained tight, and the teams went into the break with the scores still locked at 1-1.
But France went ahead again early in the third quarter, the umpire playing good advantage in the circle for Stanislas Branicki to slap into an open net.
Louis Haertelmeyer then extended the lead, beating the last defender with a good touch and smashing it in.
Player of the match, French captain Gaspard Xavier said: “The feeling is incredible. Two years ago we lost in the semi-final so today we wanted to go to the final and we did, so I think it’s a very good thing and good teamwork.”
** You can watch every game from the men’s Junior World Cup on the FIH’s Watch.Hockey platform.
