The disappointment in South Tyrol was huge. © det

Sensation at Europeada: South Tyrol is dethroned

This year, a Europeada, a European Championship for language minorities, will be held for the fifth time. Until now, the title has always gone to South Tyrol. That will now change: Martin Ritsch & Co. were sensationally eliminated in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

July 04, 2024

From Risum-Lindholm, Northern Germany

2008, 2012, 2016, 2022 - four Europeada editions, four times the winner was South Tyrol. However, a fifth trophy will not be added (for the time being). In the title fights in the German-Danish border region, Manuel Sullmann's team had to admit defeat to the Carinthian Slovenes in dramatic fashion in the quarterfinals. After a 0-0 draw in regular time, the penalty shootout resulted in South Tyrol's first ever defeat in 16 years of Europeada.

The South Tyroleans dominated the game for 90 minutes, and goalie Simon Mair did not have to distinguish himself even once. But the offensive artists around Alex Pfitscher found themselves unable to get past the extremely tightly staggered defensive bulwark of the Carinthian Slovenes.

A 15-year-old pulls the tooth of South Tyrol

The South Tyroleans had a great chance, with Jonas Clementi shortly after the break. A Simon Greif cross got longer and longer and reached the striker at the far post, but he was stopped by an incredible reflex from 15-year-old keeper Moritz Doujak. In general, this teenager (he was born in 2009 and plays in the youth team of the Austrian Bundesliga club Wolfsberger AC) was always a rock in the surf.

There was no extra time after the 0:0, the game went straight to penalties. And that's where things got dramatic: While Martin Ritsch, Alex Pfitscher, Hannes Ohnewein, Oliver Rohrer and Philipp Rabensteiner converted their attempts, Simon Greif, Matthias Bacher and Lukas Aichner failed from the spot. When Team Koroska finally scored the decisive penalty to make it 6:5, the underdogs' celebrations knew no bounds. The South Tyroleans, on the other hand, fell into a valley of tears. The first Europeada defeat after 25 wins in a row (!) has left deep scars. The South Tyrolean ladies have made it to the final.

South Tyrol – Team Koroska 0:0, 6:5 nE

South Tyrol formation (4-2-3-1): Simon Mair – Fabian Menghin (from 77th Hannes Ohnewein), Stefan Rellich, Oliver Rohrer, Lukas Aichner – Philipp Rabensteiner, Martin Ritsch – Thomas Piffrader (from 48th Manuel Wachtler), Simon Greif, Alex Pfitscher – Jonas Clementi (from 61st Matthias Bacher)

Gates: -

Penalty sequence: 1:0 Ritsch, 1:1 Hoffmann, Bacher misses, Igerc over, Greif misses, 1:2 Smartnik, 2:2 Pfitscher, 2:3 Verdel, 3:3 Rabensteiner, Lausenegger misses, 4:3 Rohrer, 4:4 Sadnek, 5:4 Ohnewein, 5:5 Müller, Aichner over, 6:5 Oraze

Yellow-red card: Manuel Wachtler (90.+6)