South Tyrol coach Marco Lazzari joins the players in cheering. © det

Europeada: Conciliatory South Tyrol victory at the end

The Europeada defending champion South Tyrol was dethroned on Thursday in the title fights in the German-Danish border region. The local footballers finished the European Championship for language minorities in fifth place.

July 05, 2024

From Risum-Lindholm, Northern Germany

On Thursday, bitter tears flowed in Risum-Lindholm. The sensational quarter-final defeat against the Carinthian Slovenes hit the South Tyrolean football heart very hard. Less than 24 hours later, Manuel Sullmann's men were back in action at the same place, playing for the final placing. For 45 minutes, the South Tyroleans faced the Slovakians in Hungary, 45 minutes against the Germans in Poland - and in the end, the local footballers had fifth place in their pocket.

While on Thursday they fought hard for a place in the semi-finals against the Carinthian Slovenes, the two mini-duels on Friday were friendly matches. Nevertheless, the South Tyroleans did not take it lightly. In the first match (or rather in the first 45 minutes) they won clearly 2-0 against the Slovaks in Hungary, with Stefan Frötscher (after Jonas Clementi's assist) and Clementi himself (after a fine header assist from Oliver Rohrer) scoring the goals.

South Tyrol's women line up for the South Tyrolean men (Video: av)

In the second “match” the score was 45:0 after 0 minutes. So it went to penalties, and the South Tyroleans had the better end of it. Goalie Patrick Psenner saved two penalties, Thomas Piffrader converted the decisive attempt for the South Tyroleans. And so the Europeada ended on a positive note despite the missed title defense. On Saturday the entourage will set off on the journey home to South Tyrol.

Mini tournament for 5th place

South Tyrol – Slovakia in Hungary 2:0

South Tyrol (4-2-3-1): Patrick Psenner – Hannes Ohnewein, Lukas Höller, Ruben Passler, Oliver Rohrer – Dennis Nagler, Michael Oberhollenzer – Stefan Frötscher, Olaf Stark, Fabian Menghin – Jonas Clementi

Gates: 1:0 Stefan Frötscher (17th), 2:0 Jonas Clementi (30th)

South Tyrol – Germans in Poland 0:0, 4:3 nE

South Tyrol (4-2-3-1): Patrick Psenner – Hannes Ohnewein, Ruben Passler, Oliver Rohrer, Lukas Aichner (from 45th Thomas Piffrader) – Dennis Nagler (from 13th Martin Ritsch), Michael Oberhollenzer – Stefan Frötscher (from 26th Fabian Menghin), Olaf Stark (from 13th Philipp Rabensteiner), Manuel Wachtler – Jonas Clementi (from 13th Alex Pfitscher)

Decisive penalty: Thomas Piffrader