EUROPEAN MACCABI GAMES - MEN'S OPEN FOOTBALL FINAL
GB 2 FRANCE 1
Having stormed through the group stages with comfortable victories over Spain, Sweden and Belgium, GB saved their best for last as they beat France 2-1 in the final.
Adam Burchell, one of their players of the tournament, missed a first-half penalty but he made amends with a stunning second-half volley to put GB in front.
France equalised a minute later but Austin Lipman won it for GB in the closing stages, with a curling shot which nestled into the bottom corner.
A delighted Landesberg told JC Sport: “I’m delighted for the boys who have trained so hard and so well for this competition, and they showed great discipline in the final.”
“The pre-match message was to stay disciplined and never once did they engage in what was going on on the field, and it was clear that France wanted us to.”
Praising GB’s opponents, Landesberg said: “France are a very decent side. They’re very strong and hadn’t lost an international Maccabi game in 90 minutes for six years. They’re not used to losing. They played 4-2-3-1 so we had to break two lines which we didn’t do very often.
“This game was difficult for so many reasons but we kept our heads and there was nothing France could do. Today we showed an extra quality that was very special.
“We’ve had an unbelievable journey, with 18 incredible players who have committed 100 per cent. The real special part of it was the team off the park - they’ve been working 18-20 hours a day to prepare things for us. It’s been so professional.
“It’s been great, an incredible competition playing five games in days. Everyone has played a part and we go forward with another focus two years away at the Maccabiah Games to finish the job I started. I’m very emotional right now. We came as a team and we go home as a family.”
Starting XI: David Myers, Jake Rinsler, Nick Landesberg, Tom Smith, Adam Lipman, Jack Mattey, Mitch Hahn (capt), Austin Lipman, Liron Mannie, Adam Burchell, Adam Bolle.
Subs: Reuben Rabstein, Lee Goldberg, Adam Arnold, Ethan Mooney, Dan Creese, Nathan Schindler, Max Kyte
GB final scoring charts:
5 goals - Adam Burchell
4 goals - Adam Bolle, Max Kyte
2 goals - Jack Mattey, Mitch Hahn, Austin Lipman
1 goals - Austin Lipman, Dan Creese, Ethan Mooney, Adam Arnold, Tom Smith, Nick Landesberg
RESULTS:
FINAL: GB 2 FRANCE 1 (Adam Burchell, Austin Lipman)
SEMI-FINAL: GB 4 BELGIUM 0 (Adam Burchell (pen), Tom Smith, Austin Lipman, Max Kyte)
Group game 3: GB 4 SWITZERLAND 1 (Nick Landesberg, Adam Burchell, Adam Bolle, Adam Arnold)
Group game 2: GB 9 SPAIN 0 (Jack Mattey, Mitch Hahn, Max Kyte 2, Dan Creese, Ethan Mooney, Tom Smith, Adam Bolle 2, Adam Burchell)
Group game 1: GB 4 SWEDEN 0 (Adam Burchell, Adam Bolle, Jack Mattey, Max Kyte)
