Germany reclaims trophy

Germany reclaims European championship trophy

In Austria, they know football. Saturday’s final game at the European Championship 2014 at Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna was nothing less than a spectacular success. And a formidable show of strength for football in Europe especially in Austria. A very competent organizer of the Championship tournament, a large and knowledgeable audience, not to mention a really good football team. The crowd was 27,000 in numbers, but they sure sounded like a lot more, and they gave the event a magical setting. It was a great show from start to finish with lots and lots of cheerleaders, performances and a very fun and exciting European Championship final between the two sporting antagonists Austria and Germany.

A tentative start from both teams, filled by the seriousness of the moment and the crowds roaring cheers. Then the Germans got going with the first touchdown of the evening, at the end of the first quarter. On Austria’s next possession which started within their own 20, they fumbled the ball and the Germans recovered and ran it into the end zone for a 14 – 0 lead.

The next quarter belonged to Austria and with a field goal and a touchdown, where they failed the extra point, the score going into halftime was 9 – 14. The third quarter ended scoreless but there were plenty of great plays on both offense and defense for both teams. At the beginning of the fourth quarter Austria charged into the lead with a touchdown by Margreiter and with a successful two point conversion by quarterback Gross, the score was 17-14 to Austria. This 2-point conversation was needed to make it a tie with a field goal attempt by Germany, which is exactly what happened with four minutes to play, through Hilgenfeldt. This was the final score as the game is tied and headed into overtime. Each team got one drive from the opponents 25 yard line, and the Germans were first out. After some struggle, including one of the two talked about yellow flags for unsportsmanlike conduct in the overtime, the Germans manage to get a touchdown and successful extra point attempt. Now it is Austrians turn to respond and after a great trick play where receiver Stefani in a reverse threw the ball to the quarterback Gross in the end zone and the crowd went wild. On the extra point attempt Austrian kicker Kappel kicked the ball into the goalpost but it had enough good direction and power to get in and make it a successful attempt to tie the game again and forced double overtime.

So new drives for both teams, but this time, Austria is first out. They only managed to put a field goal on the scoreboard, and now the Germans had a chance to claim victory with a touchdown. The Germans managed to get to the Austrian 3-yard line, and with 3rd and goal Austria successfully stopped the Germans short of the goal line. Great play. But the officials found a violation, again for unsportsmanlike conduct, whereupon the Austrians go crazy. So the Germans get automatic first down, and two plays later the quarterback Ehrenfried found Niklas Römer with a pass in the end zone for a touchdown. The game is over, 30-27, in favor of Germany and it is virtually dead silent in the just-so noisy arena. Germany are European champions after a great game on both sides of the ball.

Points per quarter

	1	2	3	4	OT	OT	Score
AUT	0	9	0	8	7	3	27
GER	14	0	0	3	7	6	30

 

Earlier in the day, in the Bronze-Medal game France triumphed Finland in a 35 - 21 game, also in the Ernst Happel stadium. This means that Germany, Austria and France are qualified from Europe and together with host nation Sweden will represent the continent in the IFAF World Championship next summer in Stockholm.