UWH
World Youth Championship : Here are the world champions !
U19M
New Zealand vs. France (2-1)
First Half: Promising start for France: France enter the pitch with a clear strategy: take the Kiwis to the wall and try to impose their rhythm. Using an “L” pattern, the French seek to create opportunities by skirting the walls and then trying to break through towards the opposing goal. This tactic initially unsettled New Zealand, who had to deal with constant pressure. The French played aggressively but calculatedly, forcing the Kiwis into several fouls. Despite this French pressure, New Zealand remained solid in defence, managing to repel repeated assaults from Les Bleus. The Kiwi defense proved unshakeable, leaving no space for the French forwards. Both teams go to half-time on a 0-0 scoreline, the French having failed to capitalize on their chances.
Second Half:
Change of tactics for the Kiwis : as soon as the break was over, New Zealand changed their strategy. More aggressive, the Kiwis take the initiative, penetrating more into the French camp with back passes and stick-to-stick transmissions. Their collective play began to bear fruit. New Zealand captain Jake Corney managed to beat the French defence to open the scoring. The goal came at a crucial moment and marked a turning point in the match.
French reaction : France, far from being defeated, tries to get back on level terms. Les Bleus redouble their efforts, trying to break through the Kiwi wall. But the New Zealand defense remained airtight, preventing the French from finding any space. Stuck in their initial game plan, the French team struggled to surprise their opponents and were forced to take risks.
Goal of the Break : Daniel Hoeglinger takes advantage of the space left by French pressure to score New Zealand’s second goal. The breakthrough goal put paid to France’s hopes, although the team continued to push to reduce the gap. At the very end of the match, Julian Honoré manages to score a goal for France, bringing the score to 2-1. However, it was too late for Les Bleus, who lost despite a courageous performance.
Match Analysis:
New Zealand : The Kiwis showed resilience in the face of French pressure, adapting their game in the second half to take the lead. Their collective strength made all the difference, with a solid defense and an ability to exploit the slightest error. In the first half, the Blacks seemed hesitant in the face of French tactics. The New Zealanders had to correct their approach before finally imposing their rhythm.
France : A remarkable first half, marked by excellent organization and constant pressure on the Kiwis. The “L” strategy almost paid off, with impressive collective discipline. However, the second half saw a lack of realism in front of goal and difficulty in adapting to New Zealand’s tactical changes. Les Bleus struggled to find attacking solutions in the face of a well-established defense.
Conclusion:
New Zealand take the title of Men’s U19 World Champions, confirming their superiority after an exemplary tournament… France, despite a fine performance, had to be content with second place, but can be proud of their achievement. Third place went to Turkey, who beat Australia 4-3 in a match of madness.
U19W
Australia vs. France (4-1)
First period :
Australian domination: from the very first minutes of play, Australia show their superiority with an intense rhythm and impeccable organization. The Australians show impressive team cohesion, constantly putting the French defense under pressure. Kya Dingley opened the scoring for Australia in the final third of the first period, confirming the dominance of the yellow and green. A few minutes later, Nellie Lee doubles the score, allowing Australia to go back to the locker room with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Second period :
Confirmation and Australian confidence: After the break, the French try to regain control, but Australia continues to dictate the pace of play. Australia’s defensive solidity and attacking efficiency make it difficult for Les Bleues. Meg Barling scored the third goal, further denting France’s hopes. Despite their best efforts, the French players struggled to contain their opponents’ repeated assaults.
Kya Dingley goal : Australia’s domination continued with Kya Dingley scoring again to take the score to 4-0. Her double confirms her key role in this team, illustrating the attacking power of the Australians.
A goal for honor : Despite this harsh scoreline, the French team did not give up. Elisa Le Senechal Rigaud reduced the deficit with a goal, giving France a burst of hope. But it came too late to switch the score .
New Zealand thus win the title of Men’s U19 World Champions, confirming their superiority after an exemplary tournament… France, despite a fine performance, had to be content with second place, but can be proud of their achievement. Third place went to Turkey, who beat Australia 4-3 in a match of madness.
Match analysis :
Australia : The Aussies demonstrated impressive technical and tactical mastery, backed up by a speed of execution that constantly challenged the French defense. Their ability to turn chances into goals made all the difference in this final.
France : The French showed courage and determination, particularly in the second half, when they tried to come back from a goal down despite a formidable Australian team. Their fighting spirit was exemplary, and their run to the final remains impressive. Les Bleues suffered in the face of Australia’s fast-paced game, struggling to impose their rhythm. Their inability to capitalize on attacking opportunities was a hindrance throughout the match.
Conclusion :
Australia are crowned U19 Women’s World Champions after a dazzling performance throughout the tournament. France, despite losing in the final, walked away with a well-deserved silver medal, underlining the talent and potential of this generation of players. Coaches Laurent Giacomello and Nathalie Mathieu achieved a remarkable feat by winning their second medal in a row, five years after the previous one. Underlining the consistency and development of women’s underwater hockey in France. New Zealand won the bronze medal match, beating Colombia 1-0. The Kiwis put in a solid defensive performance and scored the only goal of the game in the first half, securing their place on the podium.
U24W
New Zealand vs. France (6-0)
The women’s U24 final saw New Zealand beat France by a resounding 6-0 scoreline, delivering some absolutely magnificent hockey. This one-sided match highlighted the technical and tactical superiority of the Kiwis, leaving the French team no chance to compete.
From the beginning, the New Zealanders took control of the match. With relentless intensity and precision, they scored three goals in the first half, putting the pressure on the French. In the second half, the Kiwis continued to dominate, adding three more goals to seal their victory with authority.
France, lacking physical freshness and lucidity, failed to contain the New Zealand momentum. Despite their best efforts, Les Bleues were unable to find a solution to their opponents’ impenetrable defense and New Zealand’s creative attack.
Conclusion :
New Zealand win the world title, confirming their status as favourites with an exceptional performance. Congratulations to the champions on an impressive display of underwater hockey ! Colombia takes the bronze medal, beating Turkey 3-2 in a very close match. This thrilling encounter, which ended in sudden death, showed the talent and determination of both teams, but it was Colombia who came away with the bronze.
U24M
The men’s U24 final saw New Zealand triumph over Australia with an impressive score of 6-2. New Zealand took the lead with a quick opening goal, followed by a second thanks to their fast, technical play. Australia, far from giving up, hit back with two consecutive goals, bringing the two teams level. However, just before half-time, the Kiwis regained the lead with a crucial third goal, bringing the score to 3-2. It was in this period that New Zealand really showed their superiority.
With brilliant team hockey, they scored three more goals, exploiting every Australian defensive error. The Kiwis’ constant pressure prevented the Australians from getting back into the game, despite their determination. What more is there to say ? Except to say that New Zealand are way better !
Conclusion:
New Zealand have won the U24 World Championship title, once again proving their dominance in this competition. Congratulations to the Kiwis for their outstanding performance throughout the tournament. Australia, despite defeat, showed great fighting spirit and finished in second place, another fine performance. In the match for third place, Great Britain triumphed over France with a score of 3-2 after extra time. This intense match saw the British claim the bronze medal thanks to a decisive performance in extra time. The French fought to the end, but it was Great Britain who came away with the bronze.
