Thailand Repeats As World Champions
Thailand retained the NFL Flag Football World Championship with a thrilling 45-32 victory over Canada in Cologne, Germany. The Chaopraya Wittayakom School from Bangkok outscored the Ecole River Heights Middle School team from Manitoba and came up with some key defensive plays to deny the Canadians a shot at a comeback.
Thailand led 39-32 going into the final minute of action and managed one more score to put the game out of Canada's reach. The Fujitsu Junior Frontiers from Kawasaki claimed Japan's highest ever finish in the history of the seven-year tournament by beating Spain's Pere Vives Vich from Igualada into third place.
Watch video highlights of the final day of action here on the Cologne Centurions website.
“We are very proud to win the championship for Thailand and the Canadian team gave us a very difficult challenge in the final,” said running back Yutthana Ngoenmueang. “We worked very hard this week and even though we lost one of our group games we knew we could become champions.”
Thailand almost scored on the game’s opening play, but Colton Farago halted a lofted connection between Chinnawat Wongsuwan and Natthawut Khambuakhot at the one-yard line before Ngoenmueang gave Thailand the early lead. That advantage was stretched to 19-7 by halftime and after Thailand’s defense held firm Wongsuwan found Ngoenmueang in the corner of the end zone to establish an 18-point cushion.
The teams traded touchdowns twice before Canada found themselves within reach of tying the game at 32-26 when tournament male MVP Ben Allen (above) made a spectacular one-handed catch for a touchdown with 1:22 remaining. But Canada was powerless to stop the speed of Ngoenmueang, who streaked behind the defense that anticipated a run to use up the clock, and caught a touchdown for a 39-26 lead.
Allen again pulled Canada to within seven points, but with 20 seconds remaining and the Thai offense proving difficult to contain, Panumat Winitphon rushed through the middle of the Ecole Heights defense to seal the game at 45-32.
The Fujitsu Junior Frontiers from Kawasaki claimed Japan's highest finish since being runners up in the inaugural 2000 event by beating Spain's Pere Vives Vich from Igualada into third place. Fifth in the standings went to China’s Pei Zhen Middle School of Guangzhou, who pushed Da Vinci College Leonardo of Leiden in the Netherlands into sixth spot. The Schuldorf Bergstrasse Hillsiders from Seeheim Jugenheim finished seventh, Suri Middle School from Seoul, Korea came in eighth, Mexico’s Las Aguilas were ninth and the Team USA DAC Panthers finished tenth.
There was double cause for celebration for Canada when receiver Ben Allen was named the tournament’s male MVP and Emily Zarychta took the female award.
Final Standings:
1. Thailand
2. Canada
3. Japan
4. Spain
5. China
6. Netherlands
7. Germany
8. Korea
9. Mexico
10. USA
Final: Thailand 45 Canada 32
Semi final 1: Spain 13 Thailand 32
Semi final 2: Canada 31 Japan 30
Game for 7th place: Germany 44 Korea 13
Game for 5th place: China 44 Netherlands 36
Game for 3rd place: Spain 6 Japan 40
Quarterfinal Spain 30 China 27
Quarterfinal Canada 45 Germany 18
Quarterfinal Thailand 48 Korea 25
Quarterfinal Japan 61 Netherlands 36
Germany 20 Holland 47
China 47 Korea 14
USA 33 Mexico 52
Mexico 44 USA 14
Group A Group B
Canada 4-0 Spain 3-1
Thailand 3-1 Netherlands 3-1
Japan 2-2 Korea 2-2
China 1-3 Germany 1-3
Mexico 0-4 USA 1-3
Group Games:
USA 12 Spain 20
Germany 32 Korea 47
Canada 38 Mexico 28
Germany 12 Netherlands 56
Japan 41 China 35
Spain 25 Korea 41
Thailand 54 China 52
USA 40 Netherlands 48
Thailand 59 Canada 60
Netherlands 58 Korea 50
Japan 36 Mexico 18
Germany 20 Spain 24
Canada 41 China 34
USA 25 Korea 24
Thailand 34 Japan 33
Spain 32 Netherlands 20
China 32 Mexico 21
Germany 45 USA 24
Japan 46 Canada 54
Thailand 51 Mexico 34
The NFL is proud to partner with Reebok, EA and Gatorade and promote this prestigious coed tournament, which motivates boys and girls to participate in a fun and safe sport.