Intense Women's Hockey Semi-Final in Germany at Domestic Euro Championship Tournament
The German women's hockey team is set to face Belgium in the semi-finals of the European Championship on Friday at 8:00 PM. This will not be the first time these two teams meet in the semi-finals, as they also faced off in the 2023 EM.
In their previous encounter, Belgium emerged victorious, dealing a blow to Germany's hopes of winning the title. This time around, the German team will be aiming to turn the tables and secure a place in the final.
The German team's journey to the semi-finals has not been easy. They struggled to create offensive situations in the first half of their matches, but managed to pull through, securing a 0:0 draw against Ireland in their last group match.
The German team, coached by Dutch trainer Janneke Schopman, is playing for a medal in their first tournament. However, they are not at full strength due to the injury-related absence of Felicia Wiedermann (knee) and the fitness issues of Sonja Zimmermann (thigh).
Belgium, on the other hand, finished second in the last European Championship and have shown strong form in the 2025 championship. They topped Pool B, securing a 5-0 win over Scotland in one of their matches.
The Dutch team, who are the top favorites and record winners in the European Championship, will face Spain in the other semi-final earlier on Friday at 5:00 PM.
In their last match against Germany, the Dutch team earned a penalty corner in the first quarter, which was saved by German goalkeeper Julia Sonntag. The DHB team suffered a 1:5 loss to the Netherlands, a result they will be hoping to reverse in their upcoming match against Belgium.
The history between these two teams shows a close rivalry developing at the top European level. In the 2025 championship, Germany edged out Belgium in the semi-final shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Germany scored early in the second minute and held the lead until Belgian captain Alix Gerniers equalized in the final ten minutes. The shoot-out ended 3-2 in favor of Germany, with key saves from keeper Julia Sonntag.
This semi-final promises to be an exciting match, with both teams determined to secure a place in the final. The European Championship semi-finals will be a showcase of skill, determination, and strategy, as Germany and Belgium battle it out on the field.
The German team will be aiming to avenge their loss to Belgium in the 2023 EM semi-finals, as they face each other once more in the sports arena of sports, specifically hockey, in the semi-finals of the European Championship. Despite their struggles to create offensive opportunities and the absence of a few key players, the German team, coached by Janneke Schopman, hopes to turn the tables and secure a spot in the hockey finals.
