The Black Sticks Men have claimed the FIH Nations Cup title in a dramatic shootout.
The Black Sticks beat France 4-3 in a shootout after the final finished 1-1 in normal time in Gobierno, Poland on Sunday (Monday NZ Time).
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A tight match was predicted as two sides heading to the Olympics in Paris were pitted against each other in the final.
New Zealand and France respected each other and shared three quarters without a goal as each side probed forward when they could, but without fully troubling the respective goalkeeper.
The Black Sticks had two penalty corners early in the game but it didn’t end in the back of the net.
However, they went ahead after 53 minutes from Hugo Inglis’ brilliance on the right before finding Jonty Elmes, who volleyed it in.
France hit back with three minutes remaining through the inevitable Victor Charlet, who fired in a penalty corner to send the game into a shootout.
The dramatic shootout saw Leon Hayward star with saves against Timothée Clément and Brieuc Delemazure to help New Zealand lift the trophy.
The victory earned New Zealand promotion to the FIH Pro League for the 2024-25 season.
New Zealand captain Nic Woods was named player of the match and player of the tournament.
“It’s a credit to these guys when you see how much we have grown as a team and a group. Our values that we hold together. Our unison that we hold together. I am so happy.”
Meanwhile, the Black Sticks Women finished fourth in the FIH Women’s Nations Cup in Spain after a 2-1 defeat to Chile.
Rose Tynan was the scorer for New Zealand after some superb dripping to eventually lift the ball over the keeper for her sides goal.
New Zealand's Brooke Roberts was voted best goalkeeper of the tournament.
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