Soccer - DFB U17 world champions after penalty madness - "Immortal"
Penalty hero Konstantin Heide and Paris Brunner as the best player of the tournament danced in the confetti shower with the other German soccer world champions.
The U17 national team gloriously completed their World Cup fairytale with the title after a dramatic penalty shoot-out. At the award ceremony, coach Christian Wück was unusually the very first to lift the trophy.
"We are European and world champions. I told the boys they'd make themselves immortal," enthused the coach. "If anyone got to know the character of the team, it was to face such opposition in this game today. To be behind even in a penalty shoot-out, to always believe in yourself - that's incredible."
Heide saves two penalties
As in the test of nerves from the spot against Argentina, Heide also emerged as a hero in the thriller against France. The SpVgg Unterhaching goalkeeper, who had celebrated his World Cup debut in the semi-final, saved twice, with another attempt going over the goal in the final madness.
After two German misses, Dortmund's Almugera Kabar redeemed the German Football Association with the first World Cup triumph in this age group with a 4-3 victory in the penalty shoot-out. "World champions! You have earned it. Respect for this great team performance, the thrilling tournament and the enthusiasm you have created," said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, congratulating the teenagers.
In the rematch of the European Championship final in Surakarta, the game became increasingly tense at 2-2 after 90 minutes following goals from Dortmund's Paris Brunner (29th minute/foul penalty) and Barça's Noah Darvich (51st) after Saimon Bouabré (53rd) had conceded a goal - especially when Winners Osawe (69th) was shown a yellow card. After Mathis Amougou made it 2:2 (85'), the young footballers saved themselves with their last ounce of strength in the penalty shoot-out, where the German team, 11,000 kilometers away from home, swept away in the style of a tournament team.
"This team has made us all emotional, we are extremely proud of the team," said DFB Managing Director Andreas Rettig. President Bernd Neuendorf sees an opportunity for the senior national team to build momentum after a dismal few days. "This success is a great end to the year, which will give us a tailwind at the DFB for the 2024 European Championship," said Neuendorf.
Heide was beaming during the penalty shoot-out, trying to influence the shooters with gestures and exuding a great deal of self-confidence. "Konti was incredible again in the penalty shoot-out," said captain Noah Darvich. Bastien Meupiyou failed to beat Heide and Nhoa Sangui hit the top of the crossbar. On the German side, Eric da Silva Moreira and Brunner failed to score. When the penalty shoot-out also went into extra time, Heide was too strong for Tidiam Gomis.
Unbeaten at the European Championships and World Cup
No defeat at the European Championship, unbeaten at this World Cup in Indonesia - a hopeful DFB generation crowned their exciting story with an exuberantly celebrated success at Manahan Stadium. "I am so grateful to be able to coach this generation. It was our last game together. I'm lost for words," said Wück, who greeted his daughters via TV.
As with his winning goal against Spain in the quarter-finals and his great performance in the penalty thriller against Argentina in the semi-finals, Brunner could be relied upon to score this time too. He confidently converted a penalty given after a long video review. After Darvich made it 2:0, his colleagues threw themselves at the goalscorer with the feeling of having won the World Cup. France struck back almost immediately and made Germany suffer for a long time.
DFB team impresses with "German virtues"
During the World Cup days in South-East Asia, the team around Brunner, who was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, impressed with individual class, team unity and the "German virtues" that their coach likes to refer to. After dismal performances by the senior national team, the talented players enchanted Germany on their way to the final - and even more so in 26 degrees and 90 percent humidity. "Yes, there it is. Last step taken. A fantastic final!" said a delighted Bastian Schweinsteiger, who congratulated his 2014 world champion colleague Thomas Müller: "Sensational achievement."
In the first German final in this category since 1985, when the game was still played with U16 teams, the team led by FC Barcelona captain Darvich once again delivered plenty of drama and excitement, as in the quarter-final against Spain and the semi-final against Argentina. "It was a thriller like the previous rounds," said sports director Rudi Völler on RTL. "It's often precisely these players who go on to make a career many years later."
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Source: www.stern.de
