All hopes and hypes for India to retain the title went in vain as the host nation bowed out from the semifinals, losing to six-time champions Germany 2-4 in the 12th edition of the Junior Men Hockey World Cup at Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar today. On December 5, Germany will meet Argentina in the title clash, while India will face France for 3rd/4th place the same day.
Earlier in the first semifinal, Argentina beat France 3-1 in shootout after play in regulation time ended in goalless draw. Heroics by Nehuen Hernando at the Argentina goalpost made big difference between the two teams. The final match will be the second meeting between Argentina and Germany in the ongoing tournament after the European team beat the South American side in a tight 3-2 pool match.
The France-India contest for the third place also will be the second meeting between the two teams in the ongoing tournament with France winning the first encounter 5-4 at the pool stage on the opening day (November 24). Last-edition runners-up Belgium will play Netherlands in an all-European battle for fifth position while Malaysia and Spain will battle it out for the seventh spot.
RESULTS (December 3):
Match 37 (5th/8th Place): Belgium (Jeremy Wilbers 33-FG, Thibeau Stockbroekx 56-FG) beat Spain (Pau Cunill 4-PC, 24-PS) 4-3 in shootout (Regulation time 2-2). Shoot out: Belgium (Thibeau Stockbroekx, Jeremy Wilbers, Tobias Biekens, Roman Duvekot) beat Spain (Rafael Vilallonga, Ignacio Abajo, Gerard Clapes, Manuel Rodriguez). Player of the Match: Thibeau Stockbroekx (BEL).
Match 38 (5th/8th Place): Netherlands (Miles Bukkens 3-FG, 38-PC, 60-PC; Luke Dommershuijzen 4-PC, 14-PC, 34-PC; Max de Bie 37-FG, David Huussen 51-PC, 57-FG) beat Malaysia (Muhammad Khalid 41-PC, Akhimullah Anuar 59-FG, Firadus Rosdi 60-FG) 9-3. Player of the Match: Luke Dommershuijzen (NED).
Match 39 (1st Semifinal): Argentina beat France 3-1 in shoot-out (Regulation time 0-0). Shootout: Argentina (Lucio Mendez, Bautista Capurro, Franco Agostini) beat France (Timothee Clement). Player of the Match: Facundo Zarate (ARG).
Match 40 (2nd Semifinal): Germany (Erik Kleinlein 15-PC, Phillip Holzmueller 21-FG, Hannes Muller 24-FG, Christopher Kutter 25-PS) beat India (Uttam Singh 25-FG, Dhami Boby Singh 60-FG) 4-2. Player of the Match: Masi Pfandt (GER).
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PHOTO: Germany players celebrate after scoring a goal against India in their semifinal match of the Junior Men Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar on 3 December 2021.