Defending champions Germany have improved with every game. They have the edge in today’s World Cup final.

By Pargat Singh

Two deserving teams are going to play the World Cup final at the National Stadium Saturday evening. Two teams who have played consistent hockey and have peaked at the right time. 

Germany have impressed me to no end. I was at a party at the German embassy with their World Cup players. Informally, we were talking about the strength of the current team. I was told 90 per cent of the squad comprises students pursuing various degrees – management, business, economic and even medicine. They had come to India, not even expecting to be in the semifinals!

Dreams are built around vision. Germany have been a classical case. As defending champions, they came to this World Cup with modest aspirations. They are clearly building towards the 2012 Olympic Games in London and how well on track they are!

The Germans are the fittest in this World Cup. They have shown what total hockey can be. Solid in defence, quick as lightning on counter-attacks and great field coverage, the Germans have been simply awesome. In two years time, this German team will be the undisputed champions. This bunch of kids has already shown a great deal of maturity on their fledgling shoulders.

Australia have lived up to their reputation. They are playing the game they are known to: fast and aggressive and very dependent on physical ability. But against the Germans, they must know how to defend. Aussie defence is gullible and Germany will have noticed that. 

I think The Netherlands will easily win the third position. England have not looked the same side they were in the first four games. They seemed to have lost the balance and against Spain and Germany in the semis, looked quite mediocre. England have lost their thrust and will find the Dutch a handful. 

But overall, England would have caught the eye of the pundits with their improved display, both in attack and defence. As European champions, the fact that they will remain among the world’s top six is a statement enough of their caliber. After all, a berth in the Champions Trophy in itself is a great achievement.

Holland obviously will ride their tank of experience with three outstanding players in skipper Teun de Nooijer, penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema and their goalkeeper Guss Vogels. They are an extremely fit side and their prowess in converting penalty corners should stand them in good stead.

India’s 8th finish was once again a reflection of a shoddy defence. Three of the Argentine goals were thanks to poor defending. We did not seem to learn from the mistakes we committed in the previous games. The huge gaps, the lack of pace and the basic understanding were missing. We were neither in the line of the ball, nor guarding man-to-man. Is Jose Brasa doing his job?

If we had to get the better of Argentina, we had to beat them at their own game. The Latin Americans have always troubled India. They play open hockey. We are capable of the same. We had more shots on goal in the first half, but the problem was our attempts were ill-directed or just too weak. 

Conceding three goals in three minutes killed India’s chances. Although we created a series of chances in the second half, our finishing was poor. The understanding among our forwards was missing and there were numerous times passes from the flanks went abegging across the face of the Argentine goal.

I have received many questions from you, readers. It is great to see how you feel about Indian hockey. I certainly don’t have a magic wand to change India’s fortunes, but through my columns I have been highlighting the plight of our system. I will answer your questions after the World Cup ends, so keep your thoughts coming.

(Two time Olympic skipper Pargat Singh is covering the World Cup exclusively for www.espnstar.com. If you have any questions for him, send them in at espnstarweb@gmail.com)

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