The Under-17 World Cup football final took place in Indonesia on Saturday, with ten-man Germany defeating France on penalties after the teams were unable to break a 2-2 deadlock in sweltering Surakarta, Java island. The game proceeded into extra time.
After defeating the Blues in the penalty shootout, the youthful Germans maintained their composure to win their maiden Under-17 world championship and make history by being the first squad to win both the world and European age crowns in the same year.
Before Almugera Kabar of Borussia Dortmund netted the game-winning penalty kick to end the shootout 4-3, goalie Konstantin Heide emerged as the hero of the German team.
Tidiam Gomis missed the penultimate attempt, but Germany also missed two penalties, allowing their opponents to reenter the shootout.
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Germany had taken a two-goal lead in normal time thanks to goals from captain Noah Darvich of Monaco and gifted forward Paris Brunner of Borussia Dortmund in the 28th and 50th minutes, respectively. However, a resolute French team responded three minutes after Darvich’s goal, with Monaco’s Saimon Bouabre cutting into the penalty area and firing across the blind Heide.
Then, with Germany’s Winners Osawe sent off for diving in on Ismail Bouneb while already on a yellow card, France had a one-man advantage. In the 85th minute, Mathis Amougou scored a tap-in goal to cap up the Blues’ sustained pressure but a resolute German defence held firm for the penalty shootout that would win them the championship and replace 2019 winners Brazil.
