Aussies break German wall to win World Cup
Kuldip Lal
Power-packed Australia proved third time lucky as they won the men’s
field hockey World Cup after a 24-year hiatus with a 2-1 win over
defending champions Germany on Saturday.
Luke Doerner scored the winning penalty corner 11 minutes from the
end after Edward Ockenden had put the Kookaburras ahead in the sixth
minute and Moritz Furste drew level for Germany in the 48th.
Doerner’s eighth goal in the tournament made him the joint leading
scorer with another penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema of the
Netherlands.
Australia, whose previous World Cup title came way back in 1986, had
lost the last two finals against Germany in 2002 and 2006. The Germans,
hoping to become the first team in history to bag a hat-trick of titles
to add to the Beijing Olympic gold medal two years ago, were outpaced by
the speedy Australians.
Kookaburras’ legendary coach Ric Charlesworth watched the final from
the stands behind the goal, rather than on the bench, just as he had
done in the semi-final against the Netherlands.
Distinction
Charlesworth, who was part of Australia’s Cup winning squad in 1986,
achieved the distinction of winning the World Cup both as a player and
coach.
“I am too noisy and too excited on the bench, so I preferred to be
calm in the stands,” said Charlesworth. “There was nothing superstitious
about it.
“I am very, very pleased. We played a good game with a lot of control
and authority. Scoring that early goal was very helpful.
“I am pleased to win both as player and captain. In 1986, the
scoreline was the same, but the opponents (England) were different.
“The next goal now is the London Olympics.”
German captain Max Muller said the penalty corners proved decisive.
“We too got one in the end, but could not score,” he said.
“We are a young side and maybe got overawed by the occasion.
“Today we are disappointed, but when we think of it tomorrow morning,
we will be pleased we reached the final.”
The Netherlands, meanwhile, gave veteran goalkeeper Guus Vogels a
retirement present by winning the bronze medal with a 4-3 win over
England earlier on Saturday.
Thrilling play-off
In a thrilling play-off for the third and fourth place positions,
Rogier Hofman scored the winning goal three minutes before the final
whistle after the Dutch fought back from 1-3 at half-time.
Vogels, who turns 35 later this month, was named the Dutch captain
instead of Teun de Nooijer for the bronze medal match, his last
international game after earning 260 caps for his country.
Vogels was part of the Netherlands’ Olympic gold medal-winning teams
in 1996 and 2000.
“We wanted to win this one for Guus and I am proud the way we played
today,” said de Nooijer. “It was incredible the way we came back in the
match.
“Guus has been a great ambassador for Dutch hockey and has enjoyed a
glorious career.
Second half
We will celebrate by throwing a dinner for him here.” European
champions England, hoping for a podium finish for the first time since
winning the silver medal in 1986, were swept aside in the second half by
a determined Dutch side. “It is absolutely devastating,” said England
captain Barry Middleton.
“All the hard work we have done in the tournament has come to nothing
because we failed to win a medal.
“We just did not do the little things well in the match.
It was our worst game in the tournament.”
NEW DELHI, Sunday AFP |