Dominik Šabata and Martin Konečný are U23 European Champions
On Saturday, September 19th, the U23 European Championship was held in Kamenz, Germany, and Dominik Šabata and Martin Konečný became European Champions! In the final, they defeated Austria 2:1. The path to the title led through two initial defeats in the group stage, followed by two wins and advancement, through a Czech semifinal and through the final, in which the decisive goal was scored three minutes before the end.
The Czech pair won the U23 European championship for the first time in 25 years. The second Czech team won bronze, so the Czech Republic had two medals at one U23 European Championship for the first time in history.
For our club, this is by far the greatest success since its founding in 1992. Dominik and Martin have only been playing together for their second season, while both managing to study at university, and they weren't stopped even by the more than 140 kilometers that Martin has to travel for every training session.
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Group stage
Ten teams came to Kamenz, divided into two groups of five. Dominik and Martin went as the second Czech team and faced four matches in the group. It was their first European Championship.
The start didn't go well. In the first match, Dominik and Martin lost to Switzerland 2 by a score of 1:2 and according to their own words, they were wondering what they would explain at home if they returned with tenth place. In the second match came Germany 1, one of the tournament favorites, and another loss 1:3. But the game already looked different. They created pressure and took a good feeling from the second match, even if not the points.
After two defeats, they needed to win both remaining matches and still hope that Germany 1 would beat Switzerland 2. They beat Germany 2 by 4:2 and in the last group match came France. Whoever loses would only play for placement. It helped that they had played against the same French pair two weeks earlier at a friendly tournament in Zscherben and knew how to handle them. The 3:1 victory meant six points, the same as Germany 2 had. Goal difference decided advancement. Šitbořice had 9:8, the Germans 7:9. They advanced to the semifinal from second place.
| Position | Team | Players | Score | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Germany 1 | Sullivan Pittner, Lenny Schwarzbauer | 15:3 | 12 |
| 2. | Czech Republic 2 | Martin Konečný, Dominik Šabata | 9:8 | 6 |
| 3. | Germany 2 | Torben Noatnick, Leon Mambk | 7:9 | 6 |
| 4. | France | Michel Luther, Romain Doell | 5:9 | 3 |
| 5. | Switzerland 2 | Dario Schönenberger, Luca Schönenberger | 5:12 | 3 |
Semifinal against the second Czech team
In the semifinal, they faced the first Czech team, David Petr and Michal Musil from Svitávka. They won the second group without defeat with a score of 26:9 and went to Kamenz as the first seeded Czech pair. They won the Czech derby at the European Championship 4:2 and advanced to the final. At that moment it was clear that a medal was coming to Šitbořice.
Petr and Musil then played for bronze with Germany 1. After regular time the score was 4:4, extra time ended without a goal and the medal was decided by four-meter penalty shots 4:3 for Svitávka. Both Czech pairs thus left Kamenz with a medal.
Final: goal three minutes before the end
In the final, Dominik and Martin faced Austria, the pair consisting of Max Schallert and Timo Lampert. The Austrians went through their group with the same ten points as Svitávka and in the semifinal beat Germany 1 by a score of 4:2.
The first goal of the final was scored by Martin after a corner kick. Austria equalized and for a long time it looked like extra time. About three minutes before the end, Dominik scored a goal for 2:1. He himself says he didn't even celebrate because he didn't believe it actually went in. They defended the rest of the match. Martin defended accurately, the Austrians didn't get to equalize and after the final whistle Dominik and Martin were European Champions.
In total, the guys played six matches in Kamenz, four wins and two defeats, with a score of 15:11. The tournament that started with two losses ended with gold.
Tournament results
Knockout stage:
| Match | Pair | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st semifinal | Czech Republic 1 (Petr, Musil) : Czech Republic 2 (Konečný, Šabata) | 2:4 |
| 2nd semifinal | Austria (Schallert, Lampert) : Germany 1 (Pittner, Schwarzbauer) | 4:2 |
| 3rd place | Czech Republic 1 : Germany 1 | 4:4, extra time 0:0, penalty shots 4:3 |
| Final | Czech Republic 2 (Konečný, Šabata) : Austria | 2:1 |
Final standings:
| Position | Team | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Czech Republic 2 | Martin Konečný, Dominik Šabata |
| 2. | Austria | Max Schallert, Timo Lampert |
| 3. | Czech Republic 1 | David Petr, Michal Musil |
| 4. | Germany 1 | Sullivan Pittner, Lenny Schwarzbauer |
| 5. | Germany 2 | Torben Noatnick, Leon Mambk |
| 6. | Germany 3 | Christian Kropat, Raphael Seidel |
| 7. | Slovakia | Martin Kobes, Jan Holar |
| 8. | France | Michel Luther, Romain Doell |
| 9. | Switzerland 1 | Julian Manser, Mikka Roth |
| 10. | Switzerland 2 | Dario Schönenberger, Luca Schönenberger |
Complete results including the first group can be found on the tournament results page.
Highlights of all goals
From the livestream, an eight-minute highlight reel of all goals from Dominik and Martin's six matches was created, from the loss to Switzerland 2 to the final with Austria.
Players' and coach's statements
Dominik has been coached by Karel Berger since youth categories. Together they experienced several Czech Championship finals, from which Dominik left with second place. He still lacks the domestic title, but not the European one anymore.
Karel Berger says about the title: "The guys accomplished an amazing thing. Both worked hard and it's absolutely deserved for the hard work they've put in over recent years."
The interview with Martin and Dominik was conducted on Sunday, September 20th, the day after the final.
What was your preparation like before the European Championship and what expectations did you have going to Kamenz?
Martin: It was our first European Championship, so we didn't have big expectations. We wanted to give our best performance, but we didn't have any dream placement. The preparation was intensive and year-round, without a summer break. The last weeks were really intense. We trained twice a week with our elite league team, we traveled to friendly tournaments and we had an additional third individual training session together during the week. On top of that, I went to CrossFit three times a week.
After two initial defeats you were close to elimination. What did you feel at that moment and what did you tell each other?
Martin: After the first match we thought it would be a disaster. We were wondering what we would explain at home if we returned with tenth place. In the second match we lost, but we considered Germany 1 one of the tournament favorites. We created pressure and our entire game looked much better than in the first match when we were tight. So we had a good feeling from the second match.
Dominik: The match with France was important. If we had lost, we would only be playing for placement. The win meant advancement to the semifinal. It helped us that we had already played against the French team two weeks earlier at a friendly tournament in the German town of Zscherben and we knew how to handle them.
Martin, how did you experience the first goal of the final and what happened immediately after the final whistle?
Martin: It was incredible. We still couldn't believe it, even when we were standing on the podium. It's a dream I've had for the last six years. During that time I went through several teammates before it clicked with Dominik. Going to the European Championship for the first time and bringing back such a result is incredible. I travel 140 kilometers three times a week for training, but my parents once told me that it will never be optimal and that I have to choose what I want. I chose this path with Dominik and I enjoy it incredibly and I don't regret it.
Dominik, describe the decisive goal for 2:1. What went through your head during the last three minutes and what happened right after?
Dominik: When I scored the goal for 2:1, you can see that I didn't even celebrate. Perhaps I didn't even believe it went in. At the same time, I must say that the final was very easy to play for me. I was calm and satisfied with the result, Martin defended great. After the final whistle I had no idea what to do: whether to jump, cry or laugh. Everyone experienced it so much: fans, parents and coaches. I've never won even a Czech Championship, I was second in the final about four times and I told myself that it has to come one day. My parents also told me that it will pay off one day and everything will add up. There were hugs and tears, my younger brother immediately ran onto the court. There were big emotions.
What went through your head when you stood on the podium and the Czech anthem was playing?
Dominik: I have no idea at all. I just stood there, I wasn't aware of anything. I was in shock and didn't believe anything. The Czech anthem was beautiful.
Martin: We were glad that at big tournaments we also hear something other than the German anthem for once.
What's ahead for you now and what is your next common goal?
Dominik: Now we'll still try to help our elite league team win the Czech Championship, which is being played on September 26th. Then we'll take a short break and we face the fall battle in the first men's league for promotion to the elite league.
Who among the people around you would you like to thank and what does it mean for you to bring the title to Šitbořice?
Both: First of all, we want to thank coach Karel Berger, who spends an enormous amount of time with us. Without him it wouldn't work. But huge support came from all sides. We definitely want to thank all members of our cycle ball club and of course our families too.
Czech anthem in Kamenz
The Czech anthem played on the podium in Kamenz. Martin said it exactly: at big tournaments we were used to hearing the German anthem, this time ours played.
Dominik remembers it differently. According to his words, he just stood there and actually still couldn't realize what they had just accomplished. The video from the award ceremony was shot by Pavel Šmíd. Play it with sound.
What it means for Šitbořice
The cycle ball club in Šitbořice was founded in 1992. We have about twenty active players, including about ten youth players, and once a year we organize the international Grand Prix Šitbořice. In those 34 years we've had many medals from domestic competitions, but the title from the European Championship is the first.
The youth players who train in the hall next to Dominik and Martin now see where you can get to from Šitbořice.
What's next
The rest won't be long. On Saturday, September 26th, the elite Czech Championship is being held in Zlín and Dominik and Martin want to help our elite league team win the domestic title as training sparring partners. Then they'll take a short break and in the fall they face the first men's league, where we will fight for promotion to the elite league.
Dominik, Martin, congratulations and we are proud of you. Karel, thank you. And on Saturday in Zlín let's keep our fingers crossed!
Article author: Marek Topolář
Photos and video: Pavel Šmíd, opening photo of the podium: Martin Šabata