The Netherlands Retain World Games Crown
The Netherlands retained their World Games crown but did not find it as easy as they may have hoped. The Belgians would not surrender without a fight and it was only in the closing stages of the first half that the Dutch really put their mark on the match, finally leading at half time 13 -7.
This Belgian side showed in the second half why it is considered to be one of the better sides of recent years as they tried to fight back. In fact they drew the second half twelve goals each finally losing 25 – 19.
Shortly before the end two Dutch players – Barry Schep and Rick Voorneveld – were honoured as they were substituted as both were retiring from international korfball after long and distinguished careers.
The bronze medal game between Portugal and Chinese Taipei proved to be a very tense affair in the end. At first it did not look that way as the Chinese opened up a six goal lead after 15 minutes but Portugal hit back and within six minutes of the second half had clawed their way back to level. Taipei went ahead again by two but the Portuguese halved this lead before we entered the most tense stage of the match, especially for the Chinese Taipei coach who was forced to watch the match from the tribune after her yellow card the day before). Both teams missed chances and failed to score for over five minutes. Eventually the Chinese scored the important goal that meant the teams changed ends and from then on they were not threatened, finishing up winning the bronze medal with an 18-14 victory (h/t 10-7).
The match for 5th place was played between Great Britain and Russia. In the first half the Russians three times took the lead before Great Britain opened a four goal gap, narrowed to two by half time (9-7). Within five minutes of the second half the scores were level but the British team carried on playing their methodical korfball, gradually opening up and, unlike in their opening game against the Czechs, keeping it to eventually take 5th place with a 19-14 score line.
The game for 7th place was a surprising high scoring game and also very exciting. After the Czechs opening a two goal lead Germany hit back and opened up leads of their own, only for the Czechs to get back to level. Germany just edged ahead by half time (13-12). In the second half the Germans tried to open a decisive gap but by the 42nd minute the Czechs not only got level but went ahead themselves. The game became level again and with first one team and then the other leading at times we got to the last two minutes with the scores level. The final 60 seconds the Czechs scored the vital goal and when a German player made a very heavy foul, giving away a penalty, the victory for the Czech Republic was assured despite one more goal from Germany (26-27 in favour of the Czech Republic).