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When Spanish umpire&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;Adell stepped onto the pitch for her debut at the EuroHockey Championships last week, it marked a deeply personal milestone.



Just four months earlier, she had welcomed her daughter, Clara, into the world. To be officiating at Europe’s biggest stage in August was the result of months of careful preparation, immense support and sheer determination.



But for&nbsp;Sandra, this was never about proving that women should—or even could—return to elite sport so quickly after giving birth. Instead, it was about following her own path, on her own terms in pursuit of one of her major sporting ambitions.



** Sandra Adell pictured above with husband Marc Salle and baby Clara at the SparkassenPark. Picture: Ewoud Pahud de Mortanges/World Sport Pics



“This is my story,” she says. “Everyone is different, and every journey into motherhood and sport is unique. I don’t believe there is a ‘best way.’



“For me, having the Euros in August gave me motivation. I worked towards it as a challenge, but I know for others the timeline might be longer—and that is just as valid.”



A dream appointment, a life-changing moment



Sandra’s journey to the Championships began in November, when she received news of her appointment.



“It was my first EuroHockey Championship appointment, so I was delighted,” she recalls. It came just a couple of weeks after she and Marc Salles found out about the pregnancy.



With a due date in April, it created the instant dilemma about what was possible and whether it was feasible to pursue what had been a long-standing dream since taking up the whistle.



Indeed, her path&nbsp;into umpiring was influenced by her father, Xavi, who officiated at the Olympics in Athens and Beijing.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6573" srcset="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-300x200.jpg 300w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-768x512.jpg 768w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-1x1.jpg 1w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-200x133.jpg 200w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_0584120250815-500x333.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



** Sandra during France versus England. Picture: Ewoud Pahud de Mortanges/World Sport Pics



“We followed him around the world as a family,” she recalls. “I saw his passion, and eventually I chose umpiring for myself. I still play a bit, but umpiring became my way to stay in the game I love.”



That deep family connection added to the desire to reach the top level. So she spoke at length with Marc – well versed in the sacrifices and adaptations required to perform at the top after 15 years as Spanish international and three Olympics – about what might be possible.



That set in motion a unique physical and preparational plan that allowed her to accept the appointment with cautious optimism, telling herself she would take things step by step.



It did mean stepping off the field after the first half of the Spanish league season but she remained active in other aspects of hockey, coaching young players and analysing Pro League fixtures in addition to monitored fitness work.



“I never wanted to disconnect completely,” she explains. “Hockey is part of my life, and staying involved kept me motivated.”



Crucially, there were few complications with the pregnancy and her daughter Clara arrived in April. The birth went smoothly, and&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;found herself able to begin a gentle, progressive recovery with the help of a physiotherapist.



Walking, structured exercises, and eventually a return to running gave her the confidence that returning to high-level umpiring could be possible.



Building back, one step at a time



The road to the EuroHockey Championships was not simple.&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;knew she had just three months to regain fitness and pass the stringent physical tests required of international umpires.



Starting back, she was able to return to blow the whistle at the Spanish Under-18 national competition.



Vitally, she was also able to join Spanish national team training sessions where she not only ran alongside elite athletes, umpire their in-house games but also contributed by helping players practise video referrals.



“It was fantastic for me,” she says, thankful to Max Caldas for giving her the opportunity. “Not only did it help my fitness, but it reminded me how much I love being on the pitch in a top-level environment.”



By July,&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;had passed her official fitness exam, ticking the final box to make sure she could take up the championship appointment.



A family effort



Behind&nbsp;Sandra’s achievement lies a strong network of support. Her parents, her sister, and above all her husband were vital in making the return possible.



“My husband is my biggest fan,”&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;says. “He played at European level himself, so he understands the passion. He knew how much this appointment meant to me, and he said he would be there with Clara wherever I went. That support gave me the freedom to focus when I was on the pitch, knowing she was in the best possible hands.”



Her sister Claudia played a special role too, running quite literally by her side during training. “She was there to encourage me, telling me I could do it,”&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;smiles. “That made such a difference.”



The image of baby Clara in the stands, cared for by her father or grandparents, became a symbol of the collective effort behind&nbsp;Sandra’s return. “This is not something I could have done alone,” she admits.



Support from hockey authorities



Sandra&nbsp;is also quick to emphasise the role played by both the Spanish Hockey Federation and EuroHockey in supporting her comeback.



“They listened to me,” she says. “From the beginning, they asked how I felt, if I was ready, if I needed more time. They gave me space and trusted me. That trust was so important—because it would have been easier for them to give the appointment to the next name on the list. Instead, they believed in me.”



That vote of confidence meant&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;arrived at her first EuroHockey Championships feeling empowered rather than pressured.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6574" srcset="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-300x200.jpg 300w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-768x512.jpg 768w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-1x1.jpg 1w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-200x133.jpg 200w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP_529420250812-500x333.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



** Sharing a joke with fellow umpires Sebastien Michielsen and Ben Goentgen. Picture: Ewoud Pahud de Mortanges/World Sport Pics



Once the tournament began,&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;found herself relishing every moment. “It was worth everything,” she reflects. “To be on the pitch, enjoying the atmosphere, doing what I love—it reminded me why I worked so hard.”



What gave her peace of mind was knowing her daughter was cared for. “When I’m umpiring, I can focus completely, because I know Clara is safe and loved with my family. That balance is everything.”



Motherhood and sport: her perspective



Sandra&nbsp;is conscious that her story sits within a broader conversation about women in sport and motherhood.



“We do see more men bringing their children to tournaments,” she observes, “but now that is changing for women too. It’s important to show that motherhood and sport can go together.



Still, she is careful not to present her path as a template. “For me, returning quickly worked, but I know many women need more time. That is normal and should be respected.



“Every body and every journey is different. What matters is that women feel supported to make the choice that is right for them.”



She hopes her story can inspire others—not by setting a standard, but by showing possibilities. “My message to other women is: believe in yourself, trust your body, and don’t give up on your dreams. Motherhood changes you, but it can also make you stronger. You may have to find new ways, but your passions are still possible.”



Looking ahead



For now,&nbsp;Sandra&nbsp;is soaking up the joy of her first EuroHockey Championships where she was on pitch for five games and video umpire for two more.



She refuses to talk too much about long-term ambitions such as the Olympics, preferring to focus on the present.



“I want to enjoy every tournament I am part of,” she says. “This one has been very special, and I will always remember it—not just because it was my first Euros, but because it came at such a special time in my life.”

Sandra Adell: Balancing Motherhood and a EuroHockey Dream

The EuroHockey Institute Youth Leadership Festival brought together some of our sport’s brightest sparks aged 18-30 from all across Europe to share, learn and showcase new ideas in Mönchengladbach.



Throughout the week the youth leaders took part in workshops on a range of topics including leadership, inclusion, marketing, officiating and wellbeing.  



Through this, over 32 fantastic people with an incredible passion for hockey engaged with a marketing session from EuroHockey partner Osaka and a mental coaching workshop from Den Bosch coach Marieke Dijkstra along with meeting some of the world’s top officials among other sessions.



The festival is co-ordinated by Youth Leaders from previous events; this year was a particularly emotional one as Cedric Vermeiren, Sergio Ollés and Harri Evans who are stepping back from the organising committee after several years involvement.



Each of the participants in the festival was nominated by their national association. In turn, they had the opportunity to present about a project they have enacted recently to enhance hockey in their area.



Six of these initiatives were selected as finalists to present in front of members of the EuroHockey board and staff as well as their peers. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375707-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6565" srcset="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375707-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375707-300x200.jpg 300w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375707-768x512.jpg 768w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375707-1x1.jpg 1w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375707-200x133.jpg 200w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375707-500x333.jpg 500w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375707.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MONCHENGLADBACH &#8211; EuroHockey Championship 2025
Headshots
Picture: Young Leadership Festival

COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS BART SCHEULDERMAN
no archive allowed</figcaption></figure>



At the heart of it all was Slovakia’s Šarlota Medvikova who was crowned the 2025 EuroHockey Youth Leader of the Year. Her story reflects the passion, resilience and vision that defined this year’s festival.



Here’s a look at the projects that caught the judges’ eyes to reach the final presentation.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-a-hockey-family-in-slovakia">Building a Hockey Family in Slovakia</h3>



For Šarlota Medvikova, hockey is more than a sport — it’s a family. An active player with KPH Raca, and a Slovak international herself, she has stepped up as a coach to create opportunities for the next generation.



Her journey began modestly in 2021, taking responsibility for a small group of six Under-10s at her club



With little support and minimal resources, she quickly realised that building a team was not just about drills and matches. “I wanted to build a community that everyone wants to be part of,” she explained.



That community now thrives. Parents-versus-kids games, Halloween and Christmas parties, summer barbecues, swimming trips and even sleepovers have transformed the club into more than just a training ground. The result is a team that looks after one another, motivated and committed to improving every week.



Her vision has gone even further. After seven years without a youth girls’ national side, Šarlota spearheaded the rebirth of Slovakia’s under-16 girls’ programme, which she now coaches. Their first international target is set: competing at the Hockey5s tournament in Georgia in 2026.



The challenges are real — from limited recognition of hockey in Slovakia (often confused with floorball) to the ongoing struggle of resources. Yet Sarlota’s project has already delivered profound impact: raising a new generation of Slovak players whose “hearts beat for hockey.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375789-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6566" srcset="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375789-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375789-300x200.jpg 300w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375789-768x513.jpg 768w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375789-1x1.jpg 1w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375789-200x134.jpg 200w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375789-500x334.jpg 500w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375789.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



** Šarlota Medvikova presented with her award by EuroHockey Vice President Inez Cooper. Picture: Bart Scheulderman/World Sport Pics



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breaking-barriers-in-england">Breaking Barriers in England</h3>



In Bradford, Harmanpreet Sandhu saw a different barrier to overcome. Playing for England in 2023 opened his eyes to the stark divide in opportunity between state school children and those from private schools. Coming from a state school himself, and as part of the Sikh community — just 1% of England’s population — he resolved to act.



The result was the Harman Sandhu Hockey Centre, launched at his local Gurdwara in March 2023. What began with 10 children exploded into 120 participants within six weeks. Entirely funded by Harman and his family, the project has since nurtured players who now challenge adult teams and even progress to England trials.



For Harman, it’s about more than hockey: “We need more inclusion of state school children and more representation of BAME athletes.”



His centre is both a training hub and a symbol of belonging, showing how grassroots action can rewrite the sport’s narrative of access and opportunity.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bridging-the-gap-in-ireland">Bridging the Gap in Ireland</h3>



In Ireland, Caoilin Dunne has focused on one of the most troubling statistics in youth sport: almost half of girls drop out of sport during adolescence. She noticed the trend first-hand as a player and coach, and decided to tackle it head on.



Her solution is the Perform Hockey Academy, designed to support girls through key transitions — from primary to secondary school, and from school into university. The first summer camp, held this year, was a resounding success: 80 girls aged 10–13 attended, including 17 who had never picked up a stick before.



The emphasis was on fun, skills, and building confidence in a supportive environment. Each participant left with details of local clubs, ensuring their journey could continue.



She now plans to expand, with senior blitz tournaments and even a digital platform to connect young players with clubs when they leave school.



As he puts it, the aim is simple: “help good players get better, and new players to keep playing.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-sustainable-clubs-in-spain">Building Sustainable Clubs in Spain</h3>



While some projects addressed access and participation, Jorge Villacampa Muñoz in Zaragoza focused on the foundations of club life. His medium-sized club had plenty of players but lacked the organisational structure to grow sustainably.



Jorge applied his skills to transform everything off the pitch: introducing collaborative tools like Google Drive and Trello, revamping the club’s logo and website during the Covid-19 lockdown, and creating templates for communications and merchandising. He even solved the challenge of mismatched kits, ensuring every player could proudly wear club colours for the first time.



Most impressively, he made each initiative self-sufficient, funded through merchandising and carefully managed budgets. Today, others in the club have taken on the projects he started, meaning his innovations continue without him. In a world where so many clubs rely on a few overworked volunteers, Jorge’s model of sustainability offers an inspiring blueprint.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giving-hockey-a-voice-in-france">Giving Hockey a voice in France</h3>



For Mathieu Pinet, hockey became a lifeline. Diagnosed with cancer as a teenager, the sport gave him purpose and community. Today, he channels that passion into storytelling, determined to give hockey the recognition it often lacks in France.



His creation, Hockey Magazine, is more than just a publication. It shines a spotlight on the overlooked: referees, volunteers, small clubs, and Hockey-ID. “Everyone has the right to be in this magazine,” he insists. With powerful photography and thoughtful journalism, it captures both the action and the emotion of the game.



Currently run by volunteers, Mathieu dreams of professionalising the project, securing resources to expand and strengthen its reach. For him, it’s about ensuring hockey heroes — whether players or volunteers — are celebrated and seen.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375855-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6567" srcset="https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375855-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375855-300x200.jpg 300w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375855-768x512.jpg 768w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375855-1x1.jpg 1w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375855-200x133.jpg 200w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375855-500x333.jpg 500w, https://eurohockeyprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HFN250814375855.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">** The EuroHockey Youth Leadership Festival participants. Picture: Bart Scheulderman/World Sport Pics</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starting-from-scratch-in-norway">Starting from Scratch in Norway</h3>



In Bergen, hockey did not even exist — until Janina Wildermuth decided it should. A German who only discovered the sport after moving to Norway, she found herself missing hockey when she relocated to Bergen in 2024. With no local club, she set out to build one from the ground up.



Armed with borrowed sticks and balls, she recruited through social media, learned how to navigate local sports councils, and even used a public library’s Cricut machine to make club merchandise. The club now has around 20 members, has competed nationally, and contributed players to a women’s European club tournament.



The challenges remain — especially recruiting local Norwegians rather than relying solely on international students — but Janina’s project has already achieved what many thought impossible: Bergen’s first hockey club, and a foothold for the sport in western Norway.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-paths-shared-vision">Different Paths, Shared Vision</h3>



From Slovakia’s family-style community building to Norway’s pioneering club foundation, from tackling access and dropout rates to strengthening club structures and giving hockey a voice, the six finalists embodied the festival’s spirit.



Common threads run through them all: inclusion, sustainability, and the belief that hockey can offer belonging and opportunity to anyone. Yet each project also reflected its unique context — proving there is no single way to grow the game, only a shared commitment to do so.

From Slovakia to Spain: Youth Leaders Festival Showcases the Future of European Hockey

The Netherlands won an unparalleled five in-a-row as first half goals form Pien Dicke and Luna Fokke set them up for a famous 2-1 win over Germany at a packed SparkassenPark.



It took just five minutes to get on the scoreboard. The initial attack was typically swift and piercing, Xan de Waard and Joosje Burg combining to get the ball into the danger zone in front of goal where it got stuck amid a melee of sticks.



Dicke remained calmest in the chaos and poked the ball through the gap to make it 1-0.



Luna Fokke doubled the lead in the second quarter with a deft touch after Yibbi Jansen’s diagonal overhead pass into the D went to de Waard. Her shot angled across the goal where the jumping Fokke was able to redirect the ball in.



The Danas came out fighting in the second half and they were level from their first penalty corner in the 35th minute, Lisa Nolte delivering the power and a Dutch stick the ricochet that wrong-footed the goalkeeper.



But hopes of building on that momentum were abruptly slowed a few seconds later with Sara Strauss taking a 10-minute yellow card when she went to ground in a tackle.



Strauss was right back into the action after her suspension and cracked a shot at goal which Anne Veenendaal saved well.



Jansen did see a drag-flick repelled and Freeke Moes flashed a ball across the face of goal from a big chance as the game stayed in the balance right until the final whistle.



But the Dutch held on to become the first side to win the title five times in succession as the hosts had to settle for a silver medal for the eighth time.



Player of the tournament:&nbsp;Yibbi Jansen (Netherlands)



Goalkeeper of the tournament:&nbsp;Clara Perez (Spain)



U21 Talent of the tournament:&nbsp;Camille Belis (Belgium)



Top goalscorer:&nbsp;Yibbi Jansen (Netherlands) &#8211; 6 goals



Women&#8217;s EuroHockey Championships &#8211; final standings



1. Netherlands



2. Germany



3. Spain



4. Belgium



5. England



6. Scotland



7. France



8. Ireland

Netherlands complete unmatched five women’s EHC titles in a row

Clara Perez produced a remarkable series of shoot-out saves as Spain won their fourth women’s EHC medal, taking bronze ahead of Belgium.



It was scoreless in normal time with both defences producing strong final lines, meaning the one-on-one phase defined the contest.



There, Belgium edged in front through Ambre Ballenghien in round two but Laia Vidosa equalised in round three. Those were the only chances to escape the pads of Perez and Elena Sotgiu, the Spanish goalkeeper saving two penalty strokes into the bargain.



It went to sudden death where both sides missed in round six but Paula Jiménez got Spain back in front once more and then Perez kept out Ballenghien for a 2-1 success in the shoot-out.



Spain had the run of the play in the early stages, producing more of the creative play and winning four penalty corners but could not find a breakthrough.



In response, the Red Panthers finished the first half on the up and drew the best from Clara Perez from a corner of theirs.



The second half continued to be incredibly close-fought with precious few chances at either end. Perez kept out another volley of chances with four minutes to go while Spain then had set pieces chances of their own which were both scrambled away by last ditch defence.

Perez saves Spain’s way to women’s EHC bronze

England and Scotland finished their women’s EuroHockey Championship campaigns on a high to end in fifth and sixth respectively.



Darcy Bourne&#8217;s goal early in the second half saw England win 2-1 over Ireland in a highly competitive battle. Tessa Howard was credited with the first goal when England produced an excellent move up the centre; she was clean through and attempted to cross to the back post but it took a heavy defensive touch into the goal.



Katie Mullan equalised with a lovely piece of trickery before chipping the ball over Sabbie Heesh but the game was settled when Bourne picked up a loose ball with the goalkeeper out of position. She calmly slotted her backhand shot into the unguarded goal.



Scotland followed up with a 2-0 win over France to earn their best finish since 2015 courtesy of two penalty corner goals.



Sarah Robertson crashed in the first in the second half from a rebound at the injector’s spot and then Amy Costello’s powerful push clipped off the number one runner.



For France, it meant their first appearance in 20 years ended in a seventh place return.

England and Scotland end women’s EHC on a high

Germany produced a near perfect shoot-out to win their ninth men’s EuroHockey Championship, ending the Netherlands’ reign after a rousing final performance at a full SparkassenPark.



They scored all four of their efforts while Jean-Paul Danneberg saved twice to provide a suitably heroic end to a classic edition of the tournament.



In the early phase, Jorrit Croon found Koen Bijen with an amazing ball down the left line and he got off a shot which went under Danneberg but bumped off the bottom of the post.



Danneberg dramatically saved from another Bijen effort a second after the end of the first quarter, one framed perfectly for the cameras.



After surviving a couple of German corners, the Dutch hit the front in the second quarter from their first corner – it was a little off-kilter at the top of the D but Tijmen Reyenga reacted perfectly to sweep a low bullet through the German defence into the backboard.



Danneberg brilliantly denied a second from Jip Janssen before Germany forced their way back into the contest with a top-class equaliser. Lukas Windfeder’s outstanding diagonal ball found Justus Weigand and he shot from the very edge of the circle with a shot that deceived Dirk Meijer; 1-1 with 14 minutes to play.



Floris Middendorp and Steijn van Heijningen combined to almost unlock the door for Terrance Pieters who just missed out at the back post and so the shoot-out beckoned.



There, Germany were pitch-perfect. Weigand, Michel Struthoff and Hannes Müller all scored while Danneberg kept out the first two Dutch efforts.



Jip Janssen scored a stroke to keep the Netherlands alive but Thies Prinz sealed the deal, making it 4-1 to crown the victory.



Men&#8217;s EuroHockey Championship &#8211; final standings:



1. Germany



2. Netherlands



3. Spain



4. France



5. Belgium



6. England



7. Poland



8. Austria



Player of the tournament:&nbsp;Mats Grambusch (Germany)



Goalkeeper of the tournament:&nbsp;Corentin Saunier (France)



U21 Talent of the tournament:&nbsp;Malo Martinache (France)



Top goalscorer:&nbsp;Gonzalo Peillat (Germany) &#8211; 6 goals

Danneberg and Germany’s shoot-out perfection secures men’s EHC 2025 gold

Stylish goals from Marc Recasens and Nicolas Alvarez saw Spain win their sixth men&#8217;s EuroHockey Championship medal, denying France their first with an impressive performance in front of a packed and loud SparkassenPark.



The first quarter was a firecracker with chances at both ends with each team throwing everything into the contest.



Corentin Saunier and Luis Calzado were both stretched to the fullest as Gerard Clapes, Joaquin Menini, José Basterra and Victor Charlet were all denied in athletic fashion.



The opening goal finally came 90 seconds into the second half, coming at the third attempt from Recasens after two prior efforts were scrambled away by the French defence – he did so with a technically excellent reverse-stick hit.



Spain turned the screw from there on and gave France little room to manoeuvre. The red sticks were denied a second goal for a back-stick touch with 11 minutes to go.



But they did get their clinching goal in quite simply stunning fashion with Pol Cabré-Verdiell a pivotal part with several interventions, the last of which was saw him cross for Alvarez to tip in with three minutes to go.



It made it four Euro bronzes for Spain to go with two silvers in their rich history.

Spain deny France a maiden medal with super bronze display

Belgium and England ran up big scores against Poland and Austria, respectively, to finish in fifth and sixth place overall in the men’s EHC.



For the Red Lions, the highlight of their 7-1 win over the Poles was Thibeau Stockbroekx’s opening goal in the 18th minute, a magnificent punch shot into the ground that reached the top corner.



It started a run of four goals in 11 minutes for a healthy lead at half-time and Nelson Onana made it five in Q3. Gracjan Jarzyński pulled one back but Tom Boon and Onana got their second of the game in the closing quarter.



Six first half goals earned England sixth place overall as they had too much in the tank for Austria in a comprehensive 7-0 victory. Zach Wallace got two of the early ones while Sam Hooper got his first two goals of the competition to build their lead to six.



Sam Ward’s brilliant first time volley meant they finished their tournament on a high.

Belgium and England run up big wins to end men’s Pool C

Julia Sonntag proved the German hero as Die Danas made it through to their tenth women’s EuroHockey Championship final with a shoot-out win over Belgium.



She kept out a trio of Red Panthers’ efforts while Sonja Zimmerman, Jette Fleschütz and Lena Micheel all scored for a 3-2 success after normal time ended 1-1.



Ines Wanner put Germany in front in the third minute, scoring just her second international goal with a powerful drag-flick.



After that, the Red Panthers dominated the play, attacking in waves and pressing the Germans into their own 23-metre zone.



Julia Sonntag made an outstanding save with her feet to keep them one in front and they rode their luck up to half-time.



The third quarter was more even with Germany recovering their composure and picking off key interceptions to counter-attack at speed. Elodie Picard did well to deny a one-on-one chance with Lena Micheel to keep the deficit at 1-0.



Belgium, meanwhile, eventually got their equalising goal with nine minutes to go from a nicely worked penalty corner, Alix Gerniers getting the lightest of touches to chip the ball over the goalkeeper and off the defender on the line into the goal.



They survived a final minute corner, sending the game to shoot-out where the Germans prevailed.

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