While Germany made an historic return to competition after a ten-year absence with a statement road win over Great Britain on Saturday, six other nations were competing in the 2024/25 IFAF European Championships.
In Group A, Hungary won in overtime 25-19 away to Serbia, who had dramatically tied the game at 19-19 having returned a blocked extra point attempt all the way for two tying points. Group C saw Denmark begin with a 27-7 win over Switzerland (0-2), while France get their campaign underway against Czechia in Lille on Sunday, aiming to draw level with Group B leaders Finland.
In the Level 2 competition, Ireland scored inside the final minute to secure an 18-13 comeback victory over the Netherlands.
October 20: France vs Czechia, Villeneuve d'Ascq., Lille, kickoff 2pm CET
France faces a Czech team that fought hard and put up a brave performance in a 28-6 loss to last year’s silver medalists Finland.
The last time these two nations met was in 2019 with Czechia trailing by only 7-0 at half-time, but before losing 28-3.
France head coach Jean-Philippe Dinglor believes his team is stronger than the seventh- place overall rank based on last year’s tournament and is targeting a place in the final four.
“The keys to winning remain the same: be disciplined, limit mistakes, and execute well,” says Dinglor. “The Czechs have a strong ground game, while the Finns have a solid and aggressive defense.
“The goal, of course, is to win both games to qualify for the final four again. We must be among the top four European teams in every campaign.”
Serbia 19 Hungary 26
Hungary enjoyed an unusual win over Serbia, rebounding from a seemingly impossible situation to triumph 25-19 in overtime.
Quarterback Máté Hegedűs lofted a pass that found László Benedek alone in the corner of the end zone for 23-yard touchdown and a 19-17 lead late in the game. The extra point – which would have opened a three-point advantage – was blocked and returned for two points, tying the game at 19-19.
Serbia was still celebrating an improbable tie when Hegedűs hit Márton Mészáros with a 26-yard pass for the overtime win.
Serbia had opened up a 14-point first half advantage through two Boris Kujundžić touchdowns, including one on an 82-yard scamper, before Hungary’s David Novakov scored on an untouched run up the middle and Márton Németh aged on the PAT.
Novakov scored on an 8-yard touchdown run, but Hungary still trailed 14-13 after the point after try was blocked. Željko Stegnjaja edged Serbia further ahead with a 39-yard field goal before the late excitement propelled Hungary to victory.
Denmark 27 Switzerland 7
Denmark inflicted a second straight defeat on Switzerland and as a result of their 27-7 home win, the Danes travel to Italy next weekend to play for a place in the playoffs.
Denmark opened a 13-point first quarter lead when running back Jakob Michaelsen burst into the end zone from a yard out after a connection between quarterback Alexander Bjerre and receiver Jakob Niemann Green had put them in scoring position. Jeppe Petersen tagged on the point after.
Bjerre then faked a handoff, rolled out to the right and ran untouched to the end zone for a second touchdown.
The Danes’ lead was extended by halftime as with 42 seconds to play when Bjerre threw a lofted pass beyond double coverage to hit Simon Føns in stride and he raced to the end zone for a 77-yard touchdown and Petersen’s second extra point made the score 20-0.
When Switzerland mounted a response, Denmark’s defense was swarming and dominant
Facing third and two at the 9-yard mark in the fourth quarter, Bjerre again went to Føns, this time over the middle in the end zone to put the result beyond doubt.
Switzerland’s reply was as immediate as it was academic when Loris Lenzlinger’s pass to Leroy Rummeli over the middle produced a 10-yard consolation touchdown and Nils Jonkmans added the point after.
Ireland 18 Netherlands 13
Ireland scored inside the final minute to defeat the Netherlands 18-13 at Navan Rugby Club as the Level 2 series of games in the 2024/25 IFAF European Championships got underway.
The Wolfhounds led 10-0 at halftime through an Andy Quinn field goal and a two-yard run from Tom Donovan with Quinn tagging on the extra point.
The Netherlands hit back with a touchdown before a safety increased Ireland’s advantage to five points, but that was soon wiped out as the Lions scored again and held a one-point lead late in the game.
Down 13-12, Ireland snatched a dramatic victory as quarterback Matthew O'Meara connected with John Hanbury from 15 yards out in traffic. Despite failing to convert a two-point try, Ireland held on for a memorable win as the Netherlands’ final Hail Mary pass fell incomplete.
2024/25 IFAF European Championships Level 1 Group Stages
Group A Austria 1-0 Hungary 1-1 Serbia 0-1
October 12 Hungary 3 Austria 58 October 19 Serbia 19 vs Hungary 25 October 27 Austria vs Serbia, Salzburg
Group B Finland 1-0 France 0-0 Czechia 0-1
October 13 Czechia 6 Finland 28 October 20 France (0-0) vs Czechia (0-1), Lille October 26 Finland vs France, Vantaa
Group C Italy 1-0 Denmark 1-0 Switzerland 0-2
October 12 Switzerland 0 Italy 45 October 19 Denmark 27 Switzerland 7 October 26 Italy vs Denmark, Milan
Group D Germany 1-0 Sweden 1-0 Great Britain 0-2
October 13 Sweden 20 Great Britain 19 October 19 Great Britain 11 vs Germany 49 October 26 Germany vs Sweden, Krefeld
2024/25 IFAF European Championships Level 2 Group Stages Schedule
October 19 Ireland 18 Netherlands 13 November 3 Turkey vs Ireland, Ankara November 17 Netherlands vs Turkey, Arnhem
