Pakistan in FIH Nations Cup final after defeating France

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan on Friday reached the final of FIH Nations Cup after beating France in a penalty shootout after two sides were levelled at 3-3 in 60 minutes of play.

Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the final who too overcame South Korea 4-3 after a shootout. The two sides were 2-2 in the regulation time.

At one point, France was leading the thriller 2-0, but Pakistan managed to stage a fightback. They not only levelled the score, but also took a lead. However, France made it 3-3 to drag the match into a penalty shootout.

The first quarter was goalless. It was Esmenjaud Xavier, who broke the deadlock in the 10th minute of the second quarter, which ended with France leading the first semi-final 1-0.

France scores the first goal, all that pressing by the French in 2nd quarter comes in handy. Pakistan caught off during an attack, French player with an easy tap on on the right goal post. The defense was caught ball watching and napping. @FIH_Hockey nations cup 2025 pic.twitter.com/2wua5MYMoq

— Dr. Adnan (@dr_adnann) June 20, 2025

However, the third quarter saw four goals. The first of these came from Charlet Victor, as he netted the second goal for France in the fourth minute.

Victor Charlet scores his 6th goal from PC. We are our own enemies inside the D, the player was moving away from the goal as Pakistani player made a stick challenge from behind leading to a penalty corner. Pak 0 Fra 2 @FIH_Hockey nations cup 2025 pic.twitter.com/rSvnj8hSHz

— Dr. Adnan (@dr_adnann) June 20, 2025

THE COMEBACK

But the green shirts didn’t laid back and responded aggressively.

In the eight minute, Afraz draw the first blood as he scored the first for his side after receiving a cross from the right side.

Pakistan scores from a brilliant run on the right side of pitch, courtesy of Rana making the movement and afraz scoring brilliantly inside the French D. Pakistan 1 France 2 third quarter of play. Shot in the arm for Pakistan, energizing the crowd too. @FIH_Hockey nations cup 2025 pic.twitter.com/MqL0f1496g

— Dr. Adnan (@dr_adnann) June 20, 2025

As Pakistan pressed for an equaliser, they scored two goals in the 12th and 13th minutes to close the third quarter with a 3-2 lead.

Sufyan made it 2-2 while Hammaduddin gave the lead to Pakistan.

Pakistan 2 France 2. Sufyan steps up finally when needed the most. Now Pakistan needs to hold themselves. @fih nations cup 2025 pic.twitter.com/yy1pnz463O

— Dr. Adnan (@dr_adnann) June 20, 2025

Out of no where Pakistan scores and goes into lead. Pakistan 3 France 2. What a goal by Rana on the reverse. @FIH_Hockey nations cup 2025. Pakistan needs to calm down in emotions. Match is in there control. French are rattled. Calm down boys. pic.twitter.com/Ck2jissPaB

— Dr. Adnan (@dr_adnann) June 20, 2025

With just over two minutes of the regulation time remaining in the fourth quarter, Victor scored his second to make it 3-3.

Abdul manan gets a ball into his feet again. Charlet scores again. All the hard work gone due to manan putting foot to ball instead of stick. 3 – 3 Pak v Fra. @FIH_Hockey nations cup 2025. pic.twitter.com/7IWnblY2IP

— Dr. Adnan (@dr_adnann) June 20, 2025

In the shootout, Lockwood Viktor, Tynevez Etienne and Xavier missed the second, third and fifth penalties respectively.

On the other hand, only Abdul Rehman missed the second for Pakistan, which meant that they won the first semi-final with a penalty shootout scorecard of 3-2.

Pakistan 🇵🇰 defeated France 🇨🇵 in the shootouts and qualified for the final.

Semi final of FIH Nations Cup!!! 💯🔥❤️ pic.twitter.com/qYxQGIYKqe

— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) June 20, 2025

WHAT DID HAPPEN EARLY?

Pakistan had reached the last four after they finished second in Group B behind New Zealand. Both Pakistan and Malaysia had four points each, but the green shirts had scored more goals, placing them above the hosts.

On the other hand, France, the losing semi-finalists against Pakistan, had topped the Group A, while South Korea occupied the second place.