Dramatic Finish – France Edges Out Germany in Thrilling Last-Second Victory

France secured a last-gasp 31:30 win over Germany in a pulsating encounter at the Airport Trophy, remaining unbeaten in the tournament.

On the second day of the Airport Trophy in Kloten, France faced off against Germany in what turned out to be a thrilling contest. The French team had convincingly defeated Switzerland on the opening day, showcasing their aggressive defensive style, while Germany had narrowly lost to Spain. For Martin Heuberger’s squad, the objective was clear – bounce back from their first loss and reassert themselves in the tournament. Yet, France once again demonstrated their composure under pressure, managing to keep their cool even in the most critical moments.

First Half:

Germany started like a house on fire, racing to a 3:0 lead within the first six minutes, with Henri Papst and Tim Gömmel finding the net early. The German defense, anchored by a solid central block, disrupted France’s offensive rhythm, and by the 7th minute, Germany was up 5:0. France struggled to find their footing against Germany’s aggressive backcourt press and only managed to score their first goal in the 9th minute, courtesy of a penalty conversion by Reyhan Zuzo.

France gradually found their rhythm, adjusting to Germany’s physical defense and exploiting gaps through their pivot, Amara Karamoko, who was instrumental in creating scoring opportunities. By halftime, the French side had clawed back to within a goal at 12:11, with German goalkeeper Frederik Höler pulling off multiple critical saves to maintain the slim lead.

Second Half:

The tempo remained high as the second half commenced. Germany maintained a 5:1 defensive formation, but France’s playmaker Eliott Desblancs took control, orchestrating the attack and leading France to their first lead in the 41st minute. The German defense remained resolute but struggled to contain France’s lengthy possessions, which often ended with pivotal goals from the pivot Ylan Augustine.

The match remained a tight affair until the final minutes. In the 59th minute, Tim Gömmel pulled off a sensational Kempa goal to put Germany up 30:28. However, France responded immediately. Germany opted for a risky strategy, pulling their goalkeeper in the final 50 seconds while playing a man down due to a 2-minute suspension. Henri Papst had the chance to seal the game but struck the post, allowing France to counter and level the score with a quick shot into the empty net. With 18 seconds remaining, Germany called a timeout to set up a final play, but their attack was intercepted, and Eliott Desblancs pounced to score the game-winner with just two seconds left on the clock. A devastating blow for Germany, who had been on the brink of victory.

Outlook:

Germany now faces a must-win encounter against Switzerland on the final day, both teams still seeking their first points of the tournament. For Martin Heuberger’s squad, the focus will be on regrouping quickly and minimizing late-game errors. Meanwhile, France, buoyed by two consecutive wins, will head into a potential title-deciding clash against Spain, brimming with confidence and momentum.