Australia won their second world crown but it were the Germans who stole the hearts at Delhi’s National Stadium.

By Soumitra Bose

Starting their campaign with a stunning loss against England, Australia emerged world champions on Saturday night, breaking a solid German defence twice en route. But it were the young men from Deutschland who won the hearts of a near-capacity crowd at Delhi’s National Stadium, not only by their consistent hockey but by a message of friendship between India and Germany.

While the Australians celebrated their second ever World Cup triumph, their first came in 1986 against England, the Germans lifted themselves from their moment of grief and walked around the stadium pitch with a huge banner with the flags of India and Germany embossed on either side.

The huge German poster thanked the crowd for their amazing support and it was a gesture that scored many a political point at a time when Delhi’s diplomatic relationship with Australia is not at its best in the wake of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne.

Action in pics

But sports know no politics and a battle between two tough sporting superpowers understands no emotions. Australia were the better team on the night, scoring once in each half to end deserving winners. Germany pulled one back in the 48th minute through Moritz Furste, but that was not good enough.

The 2-1 scoreline is not the true reflection of a match that was dominated by Ric Charlesworth’s upstarts, who grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck from the word go.

Edward Ockenden timed his first goal of the world championship to perfection as Australia grabbed a 6th minute lead. It was 1-0 at halftime. Luke Doerner’s eighth goal of the championship on the hour separated the two teams at the end of a pulsating contest.

Australia played the game they were expected to. They took early control of the midfield and attacked the German goal from either flank. Mark Knowles (not the tennis star and Mahesh Bhupathi’s doubles partner) held centerstage as skipper Jamie Dwyer worked overtime to play gamemaker.

Such relentless were the Aussies that the Germans barely made a foray into the Australian territory. The normally organised Germans lost their blueprint as their game was riddled by wild passing and lacked the construction that one saw throughout the tournament. The only penalty corner they forced in the 20th minute was wasted.

If Germany did not lose by a bigger margin they must thank than their goalkeeper Tim Jessulat, who was outstanding with his sense of anticipation and coverage. Witte denied Doerner in the 30th minute and his three saves in the closing stages of the match surely saved the Germans a bigger embarrassment.

Germany came out a better team after the breather. Australia got a taste of their own medicine as the Germans turned on the heat with better flank play and quick and precision passing.

Effectively, the defending champions, looking for their hattrick of World Cups, equalised from their second penalty corner. Furste sounded the board with a copybook finish in the 48th minute. The Germans suddenly found some wind in their sails.

But it was going to be Australia’s night and they proved it. Man of the Match Doerner stabbed the match-winner from Australia’s third penalty corner at the stroke of the hour. Germany tried their best to take the game to the opponent camp, but the Aussies were too crafty to hook the ball back and go on the offensive. Attack is always the best form of defence.

Australia thus added one more feather to their cap. They had won the Champions Trophy last year at home and it were the Germans who were at the wrong end of a 5-3 scoreline. All credit to master coach Charlesworth, who has turned a young side into a world champion unit. The irony is India had fired this same man due to administrative bungling!