Star Australian player Like Doerner speaks to espnstar.com on the team’s journey so far in the World Cup.

By Rajarshi Gupta

Like Doerner’s natural flair has caught often caught the opponents’ defence napping in the Hockey World Cup.

The joint top-scorer in the World Cup (with the Netherlands’ Taeke Taekema) has been on top of his game in the tournament and admits it is an Aussie tactic to “intimidate” opponents.

“Speed is part of our play and we intimidate teams with it. We are a fit unit and that is something that has held us together against most other sides in the World Cup.”

Australia set a World Cup final date with Germany for the third successive year and Doerner has done the star turn for the team more often than not, slotting in seven goals in the process. That leaves him with a realistic chance of overtaking Taekema, who too has one game left. However, he claims statistics do not bother him.

“I am really not thinking about how many goals I can end up with. That doesn’t worry me. Hockey is a team game and all 11 players need to play well to for the side to win. I have just done my bit for the team.”

Australia beat the Netherlands 2-1 in a tense semi-final (when Doerner had scored too), where the Dutch fought back hard after being two goals down, replicating their flair that had seen them make the last-four. Was he worried of an Oranje backlash in the dying stages?

“They were two goals down with still some time left but we always knew that it would be a close game. Every team wants to give it their best shot in a semi and the Dutch had been on a roll but we were not worried. Our plans were well in place and they were executed perfectly.”

Ahead of the final, Doerner said it is imperative that the team stayed glued to the challenge at hand and refused to think too far beyond.

“It is good to reach the finals and now we have to just keep concentrating. The World Cup is still not over.”

The Aussie spirit is something to inspire. Despite an upset loss to England, they came back to thrash India, who were on a high after packing Pakistan off in their opener amidst much frenzy at home. Doerner represents the charisma that makes the team what it is. So, don’t bet against him inching ahead of Taekema as the leading scorer in the World Cup and Australia turning third time lucky.

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