On Saturday, Germany won the Under-17 World Cup football final in Indonesia on penalties, becoming the first team to win both the global and European titles in the same year.
The game proceeded to extra time as the teams were unable to break a 2-2 tie in humid conditions in Surakarta, Java.
In a rerun of this year’s European Championship final, which they also won on penalties, the young Germans then held their nerve in the penalty shootout to defeat the Blues and earn their first Under-17 world title.
Goalkeeper Konstantin Heide was the German hero, saving two penalties before Almugera Kabar of Borussia Dortmund netted the game-winning penalty to win the shootout 4-3.
Germany missed two penalties, but France also missed two, allowing their opponents to return to the shootout when Tidiam Gomis missed the final shot.
Germany had grabbed a two-goal lead in normal time, through gifted forward Paris Brunner of Borussia Dortmund in the 28th minute and captain Noah Darvich in the 50th, but were pegged back by a tenacious French side.
Three minutes after Darvich’s goal, France responded through Monaco’s Saimon Bouabre, who cut into the penalty area and blasted across the unsighted Heide.
When Germany midfielder Winners Osawe was sent off for diving in on Ismail Bouneb while already on a yellow card, France gained a one-man advantage.
The Blues kept up the pressure, and it paid off in the 85th minute when Mathis Amougou scored a tap-in.
A staunch German defence then held out for the penalty shootout that would secure them the title, succeeding 2019 champions Brazil.