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The Week in Germany: Sports

September 22, 2006

Germany Wins Hockey World Championship Against Australia

Defending champions Germany emerged victorious from a three to one down to defeat Australia four to three in the final of the men's hockey World Cup before some 12,000 euphoric fans in Mönchengladbach on Sunday.

Three goals in an eight-minute period in the second half turned the game around for the hosts, who had beaten Australia two to one in the 2002 final in Kuala Lumpur.

"The German teams played very aggressively from the get-go and put the 'Aussies' under a lot of pressure. A steely will to win was palpable throughout the ranks," Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote about the game that was the crowning moment of the 12-day World Cup.

Jumping for joy: The players and their fans went wild in their moment of glory.

The Australian team was missing its star offensive player, Jamie Dwyer, who had to sit out the game due to a muscle injury. Mark Knowles, Matthew Naylor and Troy Elder scored three goals for the "Kookaburras". Germany's Christopher Zeller, Moritz Fürste and Björn Emmerling scored the winning goals for their team. Spain secured third place in the tournament in a winning game over South Korea.

Instead of heading off for a posh champagne and lobster style gala celebration after their victory, the German team partied hard with their fans. Players stormed the bleachers after the official winners' ceremony was over and dined on beer and bratwurst with their fans, friends and family members. "The boys did not want to isolate themselves, they are part of the big hockey family," said German Hockey League President Stephan Abel.

The young German team also scored a big victory for departing trainer Bernhard Peters, as they could hand him their hard-won trophy as a farewell gift. He was feted by fans with chants of "Bernie, Bernie" at the end of the game and a giant banner that read "Danke Bernie 1985 - 2006" was unfurled in tribute to the retiring coach.

Hockey's happiest boys: the German team and their trophy.

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