By Gary Anderson

August 24 - The victorious German women's hockey squad who claimed European Championship gold against EnglandGermany's women claimed the International Hockey Federation (FIH) European Championship crown at a rain-soaked Hockey Arena in Boom after a dramatic shoot-out against England.

Following a pulsating match the two sides were locked at 4-4 which meant that the destination of the European Championship title would be decided by a shoot-out and German goalkeeper Kim Platten proved to be the hero as she saved four of the English efforts, while Hannah Stockel and Jana Teschke kept their nerve to give Germany its second women's European title with a 2-0 shoot-out win.

It was tough on the English side that had equalised late on in the second half through Lily Owsley but yet again the German's showed their prowess when it came to the pressure of a shoot-out.

Having overcome semi-final opponents Belgium in a shoot-out also, and they gained revenge for the last time the two sides met in a European final in 1991 when England emerged victorious 2-1.

A tight second-half was in stark contrast to the first which saw seven goals and the Germans go in at the break leading by 4-3.

Barely three minutes in, and England had taken the lead thanks to the quick reactions of Georgie Twigg who pounced on a rebound from a Kate Walsh penalty corner to fire passed Platten.

Two minutes later and Eileen Hoffman's penalty corner had the sides level before another penalty corner from Walsh had England back in the lead.

Tina Bachmann then struck twice for the German's to give them a 3-2 lead as the pendulum swung back in favour of the women in black.

However, a neat reverse-stick finish from Helen Richardson levelled things up again before Hannah Kruger gave the eventual champions a 4-3 lead at half-time from a penalty corner.

German delight in the rain at the Hockey Arena in BoomGerman delight in the rain at the Hockey Arena in Boom

























"Well it was a brilliant game and I felt very privileged to be there with the girls," said a disappointed England head coach Jason Lee afterwards.

"I don't think I could have asked for more.

"It was a great day and it's been a great tournament and actually as a coach I feel quite optimistic as I know there's lots of room for improvement for us as a team.

"I feel very upbeat about the future and what this squad can do."

Walsh, the England captain, paid tribute to Germany after what was one of the most entertaining European Championship finals in recent memory.

"Congratulations to the German team, we knew it was going to be a close game, after it being so tight in the pool, and over the last few years we've had a lot of close encounters," she said.

"There are not normally that many goals in finals, but it was an open game with both teams really going for it so I hope it made it very entertaining for everyone to watch.

"We stuck at it and got the draw and I think we felt confident going into the shuffles, but it just didn't go our way today."

English despair after shoot-out defeatEnglish despair after shoot-out defeat































It means the 32-year-old's search for a major international gold continues.

"I have absolutely no doubt that this squad has got a gold medal in it," she insisted, holding back tears.

"I know that we have got a lot more to give, and we are going to get there.

"It might not be in my lifetime, it might be in the future, but I believe we'll get there."

In the bronze medal match, it was the Netherlands who came out on top in the battle of the Low Countries as the Olympic champions beat hosts Belgium 3-1.

Strikes from Caia van Massakker and Carlien Dirske van den Heuvel gave the Dutch a two-goal lead at the break and despite a second half Belgian rally which saw Charlotte de Vos pull a goal back, a late Ellen Hoog effort three minutes from the end saw the women in orange over the line.

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