The Netherlands men’s hockey team failed in their bid to win a record third straight European title as they were edged out in a shoot-out battle by host nation Germany.

After a goalless first half in Mönchengladbach, Oranje struck first in the final when Tijmen Reyenga found a way through to goal from a short corner.

Germany equalised at the start of the fourth quarter with a shot from the edge of the circle by Justus Weigand.

The hosts had to survive a five-minute sin-binning and near-misses by Terrance Pieters and Tjep Hoedemakers for the Dutch, before the match was decided on shoot-outs.

Jorrit Croon was a fraction of a second too slow in putting his penalty away before Tijs van Dam saw his effort saved, while the Germans, who went first, were on target with their first three attempts.

The Dutch were handed a lifeline when Jean-Paul Danneberg fouled Thierry Brinkman while blocking his penalty, allowing Jip Janssen to convert a penalty flick. But it was a short reprieve as Thies Prinz made it four out of four to clinch the title for Germany.

It was sweet revenge for the Germans after Oranje beat them at shoot-outs to win the Olympic title in Paris last year, and also ended a formidable run of eight straight shoot-out victories for the Dutch.

The women’s team will be hoping a chance to go one better than their male colleagues when they take on Germany in their final on Sunday.