The German hockey women have taken a big step towards participating in the Olympic Games in Paris with a goal festival.
After the confident 10-0 win on Tuesday (January 16, 2024) against the Czech Republic at the qualifying tournament in India, the European Championship third-placed teams are in the semi-finals as group winners and now need a win for their ticket to Paris. The best three nations in the eight-person tournament are qualified for the Olympics.
Charlotte Stapenhorst (19th/43rd), Jette Fleschütz (22nd/44th), captain Nike Lorenz (39th), Sonja Zimmermann (42nd/46th/52nd), Pauline Heintz (54th) and Selin Oruz (55.) scored the goals for the selection of the German Hockey Association (DHB) in the last preliminary round game. In the semi-finals, national coach Valentin Altenburg’s team will play against the runners-up in Group B on Thursday.
“We’re now ticking off the group phase and looking ahead to the really big games we came here for,” announced Altenburg: “From now on there’s a lot to win.”
First chance at the home European Championship missed
At the start of Group A on Saturday, Germany defeated Chile 3-0. This was followed by a 1-1 draw against Japan. With seven points, the German selection is in first place. Only the Japanese can still get past, but for that the team from Asia needs a clear win against Chile.
The DHB selection missed its first chance to qualify directly for the Olympics in August. At the home European Championships in Mönchengladbach they only achieved a disappointing third place. The German men, world champions in 2023, are fighting in Oman for their ticket to France.