- Men's hockey loses the Olympics final to the Netherlands
The German men's hockey team lost the final at the Olympic Games in Paris and had to settle for the silver medal. The world champion team lost to European champion Netherlands 1:3 (1:1, 0:0) in a penalty shootout. Twelve years after the team's last Olympic victory in London, the selection of the German Hockey Federation had set out to become Olympic champions again.
Although this mission failed, the national team coached by Bundestrainer André Henning won the first Olympic medal since 2016. In Rio de Janeiro, it was bronze, and the disappointment was great after finishing fourth in Tokyo three years ago. Germany has won four Olympic titles so far, in 1972, 1992, 2008, and 2012.
At the Stade Yves-du-Manoir in the northwest of Paris, Thierry Brinkman (46th minute) gave the Netherlands the lead, Thies Prinz (50th) equalized after a seemingly failed penalty corner. In the penalty shootout, captain Brinkman, Thijs van Dam, and Duco Telgenkamp secured the victory for Oranje. Justus Weigand scored for Germany.
Despite the disappointing loss in the final, the German men's hockey team, led by Bundestrainer André Henning, earned the distinction of being the Silver medalists at the Olympic Games. Since their last Olympic victory in 2016, this was the first Olympic medal they had managed to secure.
