Some matches help a team change its image in the world of sports. On Thursday, France Under-21 hockey team went through a similar moment which would certainly transform their spirits in the future.
In one of the quarterfinals of the Hero Hockey Junior World Cup, the les Bleus shocked the European champions and tournament favourites Belgium 5-4 at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium to extend their journey into the semis.
No one had even predicted them in the quarterfinals and their march was widely expected to be halted on Thursday, but it was not to be as they outwitted Belgium in a hard-fought contest. They will now face Malaysia, who beat Korea 2-1, in the first semifinal on Friday.
Right from the start of the game, both team played with intensity, often making several breaches into each other’s circle. Belgium wasted a penalty corner chance in the very second minute and allowed France to take the lead 13 minutes later as Victor Charlet found the target. But Belgium hit back in the 29th minute through Gaetan Perez to equalise going into the break.
Tied 1-1, both the teams pressed hard in the second half of the match and what followed was a goal spree.
Two minutes into the second half, Maxime Plennevaux put Belgium ahead but it was soon neutralised by France’s talented drag-flicker Hugo Genestet in the 40th minute.
The Belgium penetration in the opposition ‘D’ earned them two goals within a span of five minutes through Dorian Thiery and Plennevaux, his second.
These two goals pushed the French side on the backfoot and the writing was almost on the wall. Two goals down that too against a side known for their robust backline, things were not looking good for the Gael Foulard-coached side but their never-say die attitude and hard work paid off.
laurent-Jean Kieffer reduced the gap in the very next minute to one after Belgium goalkeeper’s push landed in front of him and the French only needed to tap the ball inside the cage. With that goal, Belgium started to feel the heat and conceded two short corners in the 58th and 65th minutes that were successfully converted by Theophile Ponthieu and Kieffer.
Coach Foulard denied that this win is a sweet revenge of his team’s loss to the same side in the European Cup semifinal. “It’s a very happy moment for the boys as this is the first time that we’ve reached the semifinals. We played as a team and played an amazing game of hockey. It’s the belief that we’ve in ourselves as a team, which has proved to be our biggest strength in this tournament. We didn’t have revenge in our minds today when we started playing, rather we have cordial relationship with them,” he told reporters.
Considering that this the team which is being groomed to represent the French national team in the near future, Thursday’s victory will keep inspiring the players throughout their respective careers.
Germany pip Aus 4-3
The much-hyped match between Australia and Germany lived up to its billing and witnessed a breathtaking display of hockey in which defending champions Germany outwitted their fancied rivals Australia 4-3 to set up a semifinal clash against the Netherlands, who rode on brace from Thiery Brinkman and a goal from Tom Hibendaal to beat New Zealand 3-2.
For the five-time world champions Germany, Christopher Ruhr (17th minute), Enrique-Dieter linnekogel (55th), Mats Grambusch (58th) and Niklas Wellen (65th) found the targets while the 1997 edition’s winners Australia found their scorers in Will Gilmour (8th) and Dylan Wotherspoon (57th and 69th).
After the match, Germany coach Andre Henning said, “To play under this type of pressure against a strong Australian team is a good experience for the boys. All the matches we have played so far have been very competitive. Our next match is with Netherlands who are a strong team and the game can go on either side. The chances of winning remain fifty-fifty for both the teams,” he said.