Men's hockey triumphs, advancing to the semifinals following a victory against Kanters
The German men's hockey team made history by defeating Spain 4-1 in the semifinals of the EuroHockey Championships 2025, securing a spot in the final and qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The match began with a thrilling start, as Germany took an early lead with a penalty stroke from Gonzalo Peillat in the first minute. Mats Grambusch scored the first open goal for Germany in the 2nd minute, extending their lead. Spain's Jose Basterra narrowed the gap to 2-1, but Germany responded with two more goals from penalty corners by Grambusch and Thies Prinz. Peillat added a late converted flick to secure the 4-1 victory for Germany.
The German team's journey to the semifinals was not without challenges. They had to overcome a tough group stage, securing first place with seven points, ahead of France. Poland finished the tournament without any points, in last place. In their final group match, Germany set a record by defeating Poland 10-0. Thies Prinz scored two goals in this match, the second of which was set up by Mats Grambusch.
Coach Henning warned his team not to underestimate the match against Poland, and they took his warning to heart, immediately being in the game. This is the first time since 1978 that the German men's hockey team has advanced to the semifinals of the Euro Championship.
In the other semifinal, France will face the reigning champions and Olympic gold medalists, the Netherlands. France secured their spot in the semifinals with a historic 3:2 win over England, their first semifinal appearance in 55 years. The Netherlands, who won the 2021 tournament, secured their spot by defeating Belgium.
The semifinal match between Germany and Spain will be broadcast on Magenta TV on Thursday at 8:00 PM. The final match will be played on Saturday, with Germany facing the Netherlands for the chance to be crowned the EuroHockey Champions 2025.
Despite their previous victory against Poland, the German team remained vigilant against Spain, having Grambusch score another goal to maintain their lead early on. With the 4-1 victory, they booked their spot in the final of the EuroHockey Championships 2025, ensuring qualification for the 2026 World Cup hockey events.
