GB women missed progression to the semi-finals of the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships by a hair’s breadth after succumbing to the narrowest defeat to Japan in the last eight of the tournament. They concluded the competition finishing in a creditable seventh position.
GB Men rallied after a narrow 37-36 defeat in the round of 16 against France to finish in tenth place. They were unbeaten the Group stage which included an impressive victory over third seeds Germany.
The 2024 tournament represents the start of a hectic four-year cycle of international fixtures which will culminate in competition at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.
BAFA Chief Executive Chad Ehlertsen said: “The pace and volume of games the teams play over four days is intense. Team GB should be hugely commended for their contribution to a highly competitive tournament. I have used my time in Finland to witness not only how our teams have performed, but also the state-of-play of competing nations, their resourcing and their structure. Our four-year journey starts now and we will be turning our attention to developing the game plan to continue our momentum”
Day three began brightly for GB Women with victory over Switzerland in the round of 16. They raced to a 28-7 first half lead before being required to repel a strong Swiss fightback after the interval to close out the game 35-26.
This set up the Japan quarter-final a team which had booked their place in the last 16 after earning a quarter final berth by beating Australia 27-13.
Evenly matched: European champions against Asia-Oceania champions (pic: IFAF)
Japan had an impressive track record in the build-up to the tournament – having proved invincible in the Asia-Oceania games last year, romping to the continental championship, but GB, reigning European champions held their own in an end-to-end contest with Japan seizing a late advantage – which went unanswered by GB with only seconds remaining on the clock.
The team had the opportunity to finish as high as fifth, but ultimately had to settle for seventh position secured by a 28-12 victory over Italy following defeat to Canada.
So Close: GB defeated by Japan (pic: IFAF)
For GB Men, tenth position by way of back-to-back victories over Spain (34-28) and Japan (36-34) before defeat to Israel in the ninth-tenth placed play-off but the group victory against European champions Germany will live long in the memory.
Notable victory: GB men defeat reigning European Champions and third-ranked Germany (pics IFAF)
Additional images and graphics courtesy of andykeith.photo
