Prior to Germany’s 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout, the game finished 2-2 in regulation. Almugera Kabar of Germany scored the winning penalty for the Germans.
Goalscorers during regulation:
Paris Brunner (29th minute penalty), Noah Darvich (51st minute); Saimon Bouabre (53rd minute), Mathis Amougou (85th minute).
The Germans led 2-0 after goals from Paris Brunner and Noah Darvich. However, a quick goal from Saimon Bouabre and a yellow card for Winners Osawe shifted the momentum in France’s favor, and Mathis Amougou scored an equalizer in the 85th minute. But Germany ultimately won following a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory.
The European champions got into the game quickly and thought they had scored early on when Brunner scored from close range. However, the goal was disallowed by the assistant referee because of offside in the buildup.
Bilal Yalcinkaya nipped in front of Aymen Sadi, who was brought down by the forward’s outstretched leg after some penalty box pinball. Referee Espen Eskas awarded Brunner a spot kick shortly before the half-hour mark after an on-field review. Brunner confidently stroked the ball home.
Germany didn’t ease up and would twofold their lead soon after the break. Captain Darvich followed up and turned the ball in from a tight angle after Max Moerstedt broke down the right and played a sneaky ball in the direction of Brunner. Although the ball did not reach its intended target, Darvich turned it home.
The goal actually brought France back into the game, and they found a way to get back in almost immediately. Two minutes later, Bouabre reduced the deficit with a fantastic strike into the bottom corner after getting around a German challenge on the left.
The energy shift turned into even more obvious before long, as Osawe was shipped off briefly reserving following a late challenge on Ismail Bouneb in the 69th minute.
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France continued to push and was at last compensated after five minutes from time. Tidiam Gomis split away down the right after a decent one-two and laid the ball across for Amougou to divert home from short proximity and send the game to a shootout.
Germany’s goalkeeper Konstantin Heide would once again deliver as he saved two France penalties, allowing Almugera Kabar to confidently score the winning spot kick.
With their victory, Germany becomes the first nation in Europe to win both the continental and world titles simultaneously.
“It was a pure fight. A sending-off in a game like that is bitter. I was sacrificed and had to come off, but as a team we did it perfectly. Konsti [Heide] was incredible again in the penalty shootout”, Noah Darvich, Germany captain and goalscorer said after the game.
Nevertheless, Germany’s Konstantin Heide was named the match’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
