Men's European Championship hockey advances to the semi-finals after securing a victory
On Thursday, August 15, 2025, the EuroHockey Championships 2025 Men's Semifinal took place in Mönchengladbach, Germany. The match pitted Germany against Spain, and it was a thrilling encounter that saw Germany emerge victorious, advancing to the final against the Netherlands.
The match was a goal-fest, with several high-scoring matches characterising the tournament. Germany started strong, with Mats Grambusch scoring the first goal of the match just two minutes in, marking his first tournament goal. The German team demonstrated impressive goals, successful combinations, and plenty of playing joy in front of their home crowd, emphasising their title ambitions.
Thies Prinz, a key player for Germany, scored twice in the match. His first goal came in the 9th minute, and his second followed shortly after in the 12th minute. Raphael Hartkopf also contributed significantly to Germany's victory, scoring three goals in the match. His first goal was scored in the 15th minute, followed by another in the 29th minute, and the final one in the 42nd minute. Justus Weigand and Malte Hellwig also got on the scoreboard, with Weigand scoring in the 58th minute and Hellwig in the 54th minute.
Gonzalo Peillat, Belgium's standout player, scored two goals in the match, with his first coming in the 30th minute and his second in the 59th minute. However, it was not enough to prevent Belgium's elimination, as Germany secured a hard-fought 6:4 victory.
Meanwhile, the French men's hockey team made history by qualifying for the EM semifinals for the first time in 55 years. They will face the reigning champions and Olympic gold medalists, the Netherlands, in the semifinals on Thursday at 5:00 PM. The Netherlands is the defending European champion and Olympic gold medalist, making for an exciting matchup.
The Polish team finished the tournament without any points, in last place. They were defeated 10:0 by Germany in their final group match, a result that echoed a similar victory Germany had against Gibraltar in 1978.
Under the guidance of head coach André Henning, Germany secured first place with seven points ahead of France. The exact time and TV channel for the final match between Germany and the Netherlands are yet to be confirmed, but the match is expected to be broadcast on national sports channels in Germany, with live online commentary available on YouTube.
Sports enthusiasts across Europe eagerly await the upcoming clash between football powerhouses as the Premier League commences on Sunday, August 16, 2025. The opening match will feature Manchester United against Chelsea, a repeat of their thrilling encounter from the 2017/18 season.
As hockey fans continue to celebrate Germany's triumph in the EuroHockey Championships 2025, they can look forward to witnessing the exceptional play of Thies Prinz and Raphael Hartkopf in their respective teams, as both players demonstrated their prowess during the tournament.
