After 18 years Portugal comes back on the ceiling of Europe!

Gold Final: Italy - Portugal 2-6
The Big Final was maybe over every expectations: the defending champion did their best to keep the title and in the first half of the match it seemed feaseble. Since the very beginning, Italy pushed and found the goal with Ambrosio at 17.29. After less than 1 minute, Ambrosio doubled by converting the penalty. The match became really nervous and Italy made 6 faults in a raw before the end of the first time. Back to the locker rooms, Portugal completely changed and, supported by a crowded arena, started to push entering in the match. At 18.39 Diogo Rafael found the first Portuguese goal and it took him ten minutes more to double and tie: since then, the team coached by Senica became unbeatable. After the penalty converted by Ventura, Costa and Rodrigues scored in a raw and Nunes converted the last penalty: it is 6-2 and Portugal is the 2016 European Champion.

Bronze Final: Spain - Switzerland 7-1
Spain won the Bronze medal at the Europeans in Oliveira: Even if the score gap is large, it has been a hard-earned medal. Sure enough, Switzerland closed the tournament without a medal but with a result over the expectations and made Spain suffer in the first period. Spain needed half a period to break the Swiss defense: at 11' Eloi Mitjans scored his first goal in a European Senior. At 5' to the end Pascal Kissling scored a penalty and tied but a great hit by Jordi Bargallò took Spain again in the leads. Back to the parquet, it was Spain again and in the first minutes the match was already over. At 3' goal by Cristian Rodriguez followed by Barcells who converted the penalty after Jimenez's banishment. Burgaya scored the 5-1 at only 5' from the restart. The last two goals where by Baliù at 12' and the double by Mtjans.

France -Germany 2-3 (at penalties)
The 5th positiion has been assigned at the penalties in the match between France and Germany. The two teams were equivalent in everything and kicked off a taut and strong match. In the first period, the two squad studied each others: at 3' minutes to the end, a blue card for Hack sent Carlo Di Benedetto to the penalty spot but he missed the goal. Back from the locker rooms, Roberto Di Benedetto unblocked the score, but Germany tied immediately: Kevin Karschau missed the direct free hit after Di Benedetto banishment but scored still in power-play. Germany had the chance to win the match at 17" to the end, but Kevin Karschau missed the penalty: it' s overtime! Both the team failed the penalty for the 10th fault: Sergio Pereira for Germany and Roberto Di Benedetto for France. At penalties, the goals by Bruno Di Benedetto and Omar Nedder were enough to win.

Austria - England 1-6
England clearly won the first final and the 7th place in the 2016 European ranking. Austria lost all the matches and is 8th. English team took the leads with Mount at 3' and doubled with Stewart before the end of the first time. In the second half of the match, Austria countered and reduced the gap thanks to the penalty converted by Pafant. Instant reply by England with a poker of goals by Brendan Barker who scored non-stop between 7' and 14' minute rewarding his team the first victory in this tournament.

FINAL RANKING

GOLD Portugal
SILVER Italy
BRONZE Spain
4 Switzerland
5 France
6 Germany
7 England
8 Austria

Pictures by Marzia Cattini