Hockey Champions Trophy: Germany win gold

The Indians just didn’t turn up for the match. The opportunity to win their first-ever medal at the Champions Trophy since 1982 did not seem to have lifted them collectively. They looked dispirited, lacked focus and energy for the entire period. The lack of energy on the field rebounded in the stands as well, making the otherwise buzzing Kalinga a very strange setting for the clash.

Big challenge

It was always going to be a challenge for Oltmans to psych up the team for the bronze medal playoff after a morale-sapping defeat to Pakistan. Oltmans and skipper Sardar Singh had admitted as much after Saturday’s game. And in the manner in which they played, it was evident that the defeat to Pakistan was still playing on their minds. “It was the most disappointing result of the tournament for us. Not because it was Pakistan but it was a match we could’ve won had we implemented our game plan,” Oltmans said after Sunday’s defeat.

Against Australia, it was the same story. Oltmans rued the fact that India were unable to build up their attacks in a composed manner. Several times during the tournament, whenever they won the possession back, the Indians simply put their head down and darted forward, without thinking the move through. Poor finishing added to their woes too.

Against Australia, the Indians were guilty of giving away the possession frequently in trying to be cheeky on the break. Dharamvir Singh, whose crosses from the right flank were pin-point ones for a major part of the tournament, struggled to get one right in the last two matches. His partner on the right Gurbaj Singh too did not have the same impact in the semifinal and bronze medal match. By negating India’s threat from the right wing, Pakistan and Australia quelled the challenge posed by the hosts.

Fatigue, too, played a big role, especially since the side was deflated after Saturday’s defeat. The Champions Trophy was India’s fifth major tournament of the year and they’ve played almost each of them with an almost identical squad. An energetic Australia side made the most of it.

Tristan White put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute after Eddie Ockenden and Jacob Whetton initiated the move from the middle. The Indians, who hadn’t managed a shot on goal – barring a disallowed Manpreet Singh goal – for a major part of the first half, equalised from their first meaningful attack in the 42nd minute.

Manpreet stopped Sardar’s push from a penalty corner and, in a variation, he took the shot himself. His powerful hit rebounded off goalkeeper Tyler Lovell and, in the skirmish that followed in front of the goalmouth, Lalit Upadhyay reacted just in time to slot the ball home. The Australians were quick to restore their lead, with Matt Ghodes scoring in the 52nd minute. India tried to make a comeback, but they hardly managed a threatening attack.

The only consolation for them was that they managed to fulfil their target of matching the Champions Trophy performance from two years ago, where they finished fourth as well. “However, having come so close to a podium finish and a realistic chance of playing the final, the disappointment will stay for a long time,” Sardar conceded.

Germany beat Pakistan 2-0 to win Champions Trophy

Olympic champion Germany displayed superb precision play Sunday to carve out a 2-0 victory over Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament.

Christopher Wesley and Florian Fuchs scored for Germany, which dominated the Champions Trophy final with a tight game.

Once again, Germany strangled the free-flowing game of the opposition.

After getting past England and Australia in the quarterfinals and semifinals, Germany marked Pakistan tightly and virtually eliminated the Asian team’s dangerous counter-attacks.

(AP)