Niklas Wellen can still fulfill the special assignment he gave himself: as the leader of the German drama kings at the hockey world championships in India.

The striker found out last week in Bhubaneswar, during half-time of the group game against Belgium, that he had given birth to a healthy son in his native Krefeld.

This gave rise to his firm wish, which has given way to a clear conviction that when he returns home, a special photo will be taken: At the first glance at the newborn, he would like to put the World Cup gold medal on the little one.

Waves and co are now just one win away from the first German world championship title in 17 years.

On Friday, the German team defeated Australia 4:3 in another real hockey thriller.

This Sunday (2.30 p.m., live on DAZN) the final is about gold.

It would be the third World Cup triumph for the German Hockey Association (DHB) after 2002 and 2006.

"What mental strength"

“Crazy that we filmed this game too.

This team is just crazy," said Wellen, who had risen to the position of head dramaturge and game decider in the extremely exciting final phase.

National coach André Henning said when the exuberance of feelings after the late luck had subsided: "If I weren't the coach of this team, I would be the biggest fan from today. It impresses me how hard we play hockey and what kind of hockey we are mental strength we bring with us.”

With 150 seconds to go, Blake Govers gave the Australians a 3-2 lead with a penalty corner.

The Germans still had 150 seconds against a physically strong and savvy world number one.

Two days earlier in the quarter-finals, the German team had managed to equalize a two-goal deficit in the last two minutes and then win on penalties against England.

With this English experience behind them, the Germans, who were significantly better over the entire season, set out to hit back again.

They should even succeed twice more in these two minutes and 30 seconds thanks to an enormous will and energy performance.

With a fine individual performance, Wellen first got a penalty corner, which the team specialist, Gonzalo Peillat, converted with one minute and 42 seconds to go – 3:3.

Skill, overview and verve

Outnumbered by a time penalty against an Australian, the Germans launch the final attack in regular time.

And indeed, Peillat's cross somehow reached waves, which converted from close range to 4: 3 - six seconds before the end.

Late doubles are a German domain at this tournament.

“After the quarter-finals, we actually thought: it couldn't be more exciting, exciting or close.

But we've now crowned that," said midfielder Moritz Trompertz.

In the first quarter, which was characterized by tactics, the efficient Australians took the lead with a goal from Hayward (11th) after penalty corner.

The DHB selection then gained momentum and was even dominant at times.

In a number of well-played circle scenes, however, the last punch and sometimes luck were missing.

One of these many dangerous advances by the strong Germans then resulted in a counterattack, which Ephraums (26th) completed to make it 0:2 at the break.

The conditions on the blue artificial turf did not change for a long time in the third period either.

The Germans ran up and, with a lot of skill, overview and verve, came close to the goal again and again before they really didn't know what to do anymore.

It was then decisive that Peillat finally used his qualities as the supposedly best corner shooter in the world, which had not yet really come into play in this championship.

The naturalized former Argentinian's first attempt to score a goal (42nd) came after a series of failed attempts.

He regained his dexterity and precision in the 2-2 equalizer (52'), and in the third strike (58') he had a lot of nerves of steel - before Wellen made his big appearance.

"We," said the 28-year-old father and match winner, "are not finished here."