Germany, the Netherlands Should have It Easy Friday (Preview)
New Delhi, March 4 – On current form, defending champions Germany and group leaders the Netherlands should find Argentina and Canada easy in their run-up to gain semi-final berths in the Hockey World Cup here Friday.
With gamemaker and captain Teun de Nooijer in fine fettle and lethal penalty-corner specialist Taeke Taekema on a song, the Netherlands were fluid in their movements while winning both their Pool A matches to garner six points.
After blanking Argentina 3-0, thanks to a Taekema hat-trick, and getting the better of New Zealand 3-1, the Dutch look favourites to log full points against Canada, which has suffered two losses on the trot at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
The two sides have met only once earlier in the 1998 World Cup, and the Netherlands won 3-1 and then went on to claim their third and last title.
The Dutch are being considered strong contenders for the crown, but coach Michel van den Huevel has said he is taking one match at a time.
‘I am not thinking beyond our next match against Canada Friday. We have improved from our first match. But we still have a long way to go,’ said Huevel.
‘It was good to see that we got some nice field goals (against New Zealand) and our boys are also performing well with every match,’ he said.
Germany, who finished with a 2-2 draw against Korea, have signalled a return to form with a 6-0 decimation of Canada Wednesday.
Placed second in the Pool with four points from two outings, the Germans would be up against the physical game of the Latin American nation, but the European power-house’s professional approach and clinical display put them much ahead of their rivals.
Like Canada, the Argentinians are yet to earn any point, having lost both their matches, but have a flair for attacks as Korea found Wednesday.
The Argentinians dominated the first session and went ahead in the second, before the Asian champions scored two late goals to manage a hard-fought victory.
The Germans, winners of the last two World Cups, have come with a young side, but have been well served by the 18-year-old Florian Fuchs, who has already slotted three goals in the first two games.
After being found miserably wanting in the penalty corner department against Korea, the Germans
improved Wednesday converting three of the set-pieces against Canada, and team coach Markus Weise would be looking forward to a repeat performance Thursday.
‘I am happy we had a good conversion rate Wedensday. We got eight penalty corners and converted three. So, in this match we have made use of the opportunities. We will keep it going,’ Weise said.
Korea also have four points, but are third in the Pool on goal difference. New Zealand are a point and a rung behind the Koreans, and the contest between the two could be absorbing as both need to win to keep themselves in the race for a slot in the pre-summit round.
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