Rot-Weiss Köln star Michel Struthoff struck the defining moment of the men’s FIH World Cup final as his 44th minute goal earned Germany a 1-0 win over Spain.
The goal meant the Germans became the first men’s team to win back-to-back FIH Hockey World Cup titles on two separate occasions by successfully defending their crown in Wavre on Sunday.
He was among eight players connected to Rot-Weiss – who will play in EHL Men ROUND1 in October in Eindhoven – in their panel alongside Christopher Rühr (player of the match in the final), Jean-Paul Danneberg and captain Tom Grambusch along with new signings Hugo von Montgelas and Jakob Brilla while Justus Warweg (nominated as the tournament’s rising star) and Antheus Barry grew up at the club.
In addition, the club’s head coach Pasha Gademan will also be there as assistant coach, and Philip Ibe was the team doctor.
The goal was a lovely piece of opportunism as he picked up the ball on the left baseline, rounded the goalkeeper and slipped into the net.
It was one of precious few German opportunities in the second half as Spain made most of the forward movement and won a series of corners.
But they could find no way past the defences of Danneberg who kept out two sharp backhand chances in the first half and then – along with his corner defensive team – was everything the Red Sticks threw at him.
Rühr said afterwards his side were planning to celebrate all of next week: “[This means] much more than anything else. I think everyone said, ‘Ah, the Germans this year, nah, they won’t be there.’
“Everyone took it on the other teams, but we showed what we’re capable of and played an amazing German competition. It was unbelievably tough. I think Spain played a hell of a tournament.
“We always struggle against Spain. They are a tough side, and they played a really good game today, and we had the luckier end.”