Men’s 2016 European Rink Hockey Championship: The Finals

Recap of the Euro

… Then, Spain seized the bronze in beating Switzerland who fought tooth and nail in the first period, before yielding at the beginning of the second period. As for the final game between Italy and Portugal, it ended with the brilliant victory of Portugal, the newly crowned European Champions, although the scores are a little deceptive: Portugal only equilized at the 32nd minute and widened the gap 6-2 to get the title.

Results of the finals

• Austria 1 – 6 England
• Germany 2 – 3 France (shoot-outs)
• Spain 7 – 1 Switzerland
• Italy 2 – 6 Portugal

Final Ranking

1. Portugal (2016 European Champions)
2. Italy (2016 European Vice-Champions)
3. Spain (Bronze)
4. Switzerland
5. France
6. Germany
7. England
8. Austria

Best scorers

• 14 goals: Joao Rodrigues (Portugal)
• 10 goals: Gonçalo Alves (Portugal) and Federico Ambrosio (Italy)
• 9 goals: Ricardo Barreiros (Portugal) and Jordi Bargallo (Spain)

Austria – England: 1-6 (0-2)

Goals

3′ 0-1 Mount (penalty)
8′ 0-2 Stewart
23′ 1-2 Pafant (penalty)
28′ 1-3 Barker
32′ 1-4 Barker
33′ 1-5 Barker
34′ 1-6 Barker

England brilliantly won the game against Austria for the 7th place. They were leading 2-0 at the break, and even if Austria scored one goal (2-1), the game ended with a solid 6-1, after a series of 4 goals by Brendan Barker in a few minutes. On the English side, let’s note the great performances throughout the tournament of young goal keeper Thomas Allender and of experienced Alexander Mount who plays in Portugal.

Austria

Schüssling, Mohr – Magister, Zehrer, Stockinger, Huber, Theurer, Pafant (C), Winder, Wolf
Coach: Joao Meireles

England

Revill, Allander – Mount, Smith, Johnson, Greewood, Jones, Neville, Stewart (C), Barker
Coach: José Carlos Amaral

Referees: MM. Eggimann (Sui) et Ullrich (Allm)

Germany – France: 2-3 (0-0) (1-1) (1-1)

23′ 0-1 Roberto Di Benedetto
25′ 1-1 Karschau

Shoot-outs

Kevin Karschau 1-1
Rémi Herman 1-1
Hack 2-1
Bruno Di Benedetto 2-2
Milewski 2-2
Omar Nedder 2-3
Lucas Karschau 2-3
Carlo Di Benedetto 2-3
Pereira 2-3

The game remained very balanced for a long time despite a blue card for Germany in the first period. Roberto Di Benedetto opened the score for the French, before getting, a few seconds later, a blue card the consequences of which were cleverly dealt with by Olivier Gélébart. Kirsch however got revenge in equalizing soon after, 1-1. A few seconds before the end of the game, Germany could have won if they had scored the penalty generously offered by France. The game finished with the score of 1-1, after 2×5 min of extra time.
Olivier Gélébard stood out once more during the successful French shoot-outs by Roberto Di Benedetto and Omar Nedder, only letting one single German shot in out of 5, enabling France to reach rank #5.
A brilliant comeback in Team France for the Breton goal keeper, whose personal style is pretty unique.

Germany

Glowka (C), Leyer – Lucas Karschau, Kevin Karschau, Milewski, Hack, Peinke, Fonseca, Pereira, Nusch
Coach: Mark Berenbeck

France

Baptiste Bonneau, Olivier Gélébart – Sébastien Furstenberger, Bruno Di Benedetto, Rémi Herman, Cirilo Garcia, Roberto Di Benedetto, Omar Nedder, Florent David, Carlo Di Benedetto (C)
Coach: Fabien Savreux

Referees: MM. Ferrari and Galoppi

Spain – Switzerland: 7-1 (2-1)

Goals

10′ 1-0 Mitjans
16′ 1-1 Kissling (penalty)
20′ 2-1 Jordi Bargallo
23′ 3-1 Rodriguez
24′ 4-1 Bancells
26′ 5-1 Birgaya
31′ 6-1 « Toni » Baliu
32′ 7-1 Mitjans

It was the comeback game of the Swiss captain, Federico Garcia, after his injury of the previous day. The first period was balanced, with player-coach Pascal Kissing catching up on the score on a penalty at 16′, but they let a goal in a few seconds before the break.
At the beginning of the second period, things turned in favor of Spain, especially after a blue card for Gaël Jimenez. The Spanish got the bronze, but Switzerland can also be proud to have reached heights they hadn’t reached in a long time is such competitions, ranking #4.

Spain

Grau, Puigbi – Burgaya, Bacells, Baliu, Selva, Mitjans, Rodriguez, Pau Bargallo, Jordi Bargallo (C)
Coach: Joaquin Pauls

Switzerland

Vizio, Langenegger – Wyss, Gian Rettenmund, Gaël Jimenez, Raphaël Rettenmund, Boll, Kissling, Wirth
Coach: Pascal Kissling

Referees: MM. Rainha and Torres (Por)

Italy – Portugal: 2-6 (2-0)

Goals

3′ 1-0 Ambrosio
4′ 2-0 Ambrosio (penalty)
22′ 2-1 Rafael
32′ 2-2 Rafael
34′ 2-3 Ventura (penalty)
37′ 2-4 « Rafa » Costa
37′ 2-5 Rodrigues
38′ 2-6 Nunes on CFD (15th Italian penalty)

Italy entered the game like a rocket, scoring 2 goals in less than 4 minutes to the 2.500 spectators and Portuguese supporters’ surprise. Portugal scored for the first time at 22′ and, 2 minutes later, they missed the opportunity at equalizing on the 10th Italian penalty. The Italian defense ended up yielding at 32′, letting 5 goals in, in 6 minutes, including one goal on a penalty and the last one on CFD after the 15th Italian penalty. This is how Portugal became the European Champion in this mythical arena that already saw them win European and world titles. As for Italy, they have nothing to be ashamed of, getting a well-deserved European vice-champion title.

Italy

Barozzi, Gnata – Amato, Compagno, Ambrosio (1), Malagoli, Cocco, Illuzzi, Verona, Pagnini
Coach: Massimo Mariotti

Portugal

Girao, Filipe Magalhaes – Henrique Magalhaes, Costa, Rafael, Ventura, Alves, Barreiros, Nunes, Rodrigues (C)
Coach: Luis Senica

Referees: MM. Garcia and Valverde 

Links

2016 European Rink Hockey Championship