Germany defeated the Czech Republic 5-2 Sunday in Prague to claim the 2026 European Indoor Hockey Championship title, capping a thrilling tournament hosted in the Czech capital [[1]]. The Czech team, making its first-ever appearance in the championship final, put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to a dominant German side. the tournament, which began January 15th at the UNYP Arena, saw several closely contested matches and surprising upsets throughout the week.
Germany claimed the championship title at the European Indoor Hockey Championship in Prague, defeating the Czech Republic 5-2 in a thrilling final.
The Czech team got off to a fast start with a goal from Natálie Hájková, but Germany quickly responded and ultimately dominated the contest with Charlotte Gerstenhöfer scoring twice. A late goal from Veronika Přibíková offered a glimmer of hope for the home side, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the German advantage.
“We can be proud of ourselves for reaching the final. It’s the first time in history, and gold would have been the icing on the cake,” Hájková told Czech Television. “Of course, it’s disappointing because we believed in ourselves and fought until the last minute, but unfortunately, the Germans know how to play and how to finish their chances.”
The Czech Republic enjoyed a strong run to the final, topping their group after victories over Lithuania (6-2) and Ukraine (5-4), alongside a draw against defending silver medalists Poland (3-3) and a loss to Spain (3-5). They secured their place in the semi-finals as runners-up, where they staged a dramatic comeback against group A winners Austria, erasing a two-goal deficit in the final minutes. A 3-2 shootout victory then sealed their historic first appearance in the European Championship final.
| European Indoor Hockey Championship Women in Prague: |
|---|
| Final: |
| Germany – Czech Republic 5-2 (2:1) |
| Goals: 17th and 24th Gerstenhöfer, 10th Drum, 32nd Hendrix, 39th Pope – 2nd Hájková, 40th Přibíková. |
| 3rd Place Playoff: Austria – Spain 3-2 (2:1), |
| 5th Place Playoff: Belgium – Ukraine 5-4 (2:2), |
| 7th Place Playoff: Switzerland – Poland 4-3 (2:2), |
| 9th Place Playoff: Ireland – Lithuania 3-1 (1:1). |
