Germany’s women rallied from defeat a day earlier to turn the tables on China in their FIH Hockey Pro League clash in Berlin on Wednesday, to secure an important three points in their relegation battle with England and India.
The German men then completed a home double in dominant style, putting five goals past Australia.
(Women’s) Germany 2 – 1 China
The Chinese had the upper hand for long periods of the first half, holding more possession, creating more shots, and earning three penalty corners as early as the third minute. Finja Starck was busy in the German goal at the start of the second quarter before her team enjoyed some ascendancy, and they took the lead from their first penalty corner in the 23rd minute. It was a complex variation that ultimately went back to injector Linnea Weidemann for the slap-in, and Germany led 1-0 at half time.
After a scrappy start to the third quarter, China stepped up the pressure. They equalised in the 36th minute when Zeng Xueling carried into the circle and took the shot herself. Julia Sonntag then made an excellent double save for Germany, and the Chinese had some relief when a German penalty corner goal was disallowed for the ball not leaving the circle.
Sophia Schwabe showed tremendous grit around the goalkeeper’s pads to earn a penalty stroke for Germany in the 49th minute, which was comfortably put away by Sonja Zimmermann. China immediately won a series of penalty corners, but Sonntag led a good defensive effort to hold them to zero from 10 on the night. The Chinese pulled their goalkeeper off with seven minutes remaining, but one half chance came to nothing. Germany’s win means their destiny in the competition remains in their hands when they face England over the weekend.
Germany’s Emma Davidsmeyer was named player of the match and said: “We changed a lot from yesterday. We had a very good mentality, I think, defending was very good, and I think it was the first time that we did it the whole game.”
(Men’s) Germany 5 – 0 Australia
Martin Zwicker celebrated his record-breaking 336th appearance to become the most capped German outdoor men’s player of all time with a resounding 5-0 win over Australia. The win lifts Germany to second place in the standings and boosts their chances of securing a qualifying spot for next year’s FIH Hockey World Cup.
There was end-to-end action in the first quarter as both teams started aggressively. Benedikt Schwarzhaupt fired Germany ahead with a fifth-minute drag flick, a huge deflection off the first wave completely stranding Jed Snowden in goal. Malte Hellwig then doubled their lead with his 13th-minute tap-in from slick passing in the circle, and Moritz Ludwig added a penalty corner deflection six minutes later. JP Danneberg made a great double save, followed immediately by a diving penalty corner save to deny Australia from one of their best periods of attack, before Hellwig struck again to give Germany a 4-0 lead by half time.
The Germans controlled the second half well, playing with high energy and disrupting the Kookaburras who compounded their problems by receiving two cards in the third quarter. Raphael Hartkopf piled on more pain when his pass across goal was steered in by an Australian defender in the 36th minute to surge even further in front.
It was a night when Australia’s golden touch failed them, and passes didn’t quite connect when it mattered. It’s not the way Tom Craig would have imagined his 150th appearance playing out, and was a disappointing way for the defending champions to end their exceptional campaign.
The player of the match went to Germany’s Moritz Ludwig, who said: “I think we executed our game plan very well. We were very effective in the opponents’ D, and I think at the end it’s deserved that we won this game.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (17 goals)
Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (19 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 25 June 2025
Ernst Reuter Sportfeld, Berlin, Germany (GER)
Women
Result: Match 66 (W)
Germany 2 – 1 China
Player of the match: Emma Davidsmeyer (GER)
Umpires: Hannah Harrison (ENG), Kristy Robertson (AUS), Hideki Kinoshita (JPN-video)
Men
Result: Match 68 (M)
Germany 5 – 0 Australia
Player of the match: Moritz Ludwig (GER)
Umpires: Hideki Kinoshita (JPN), Ayanna McClean (TTO), Hannah Harrison (ENG-video)
