By IANS,
New Delhi: With a team of relative greenhorns, defending champions Germany begin their campaign against Asian powerhouse South Korea while three-time winners the Netherlands take on Argentina in group A games of the Hockey World Cup here Monday.
New Zealand face Canada in the third match of day two at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
With a stupendous record of two consecutive World Cup titles and an equal number of Olympic gold medals (besides one as West Germany in 1972), the Germans are a force to reckon with in modern hockey for their disciplined approach and precision. But the absence of seasoned professionals like striker Christopher Zeller has robbed the team of some of its strength.
A win in New Delhi would make it a hat-trick of World Cup titles for Germany but skipper Maximilian Muller conceded that it is not the ultimate aim of the team.
“We are not looking at a hat-trick of titles. This is a fairly inexperienced side. This is the third World Cup we are playing with three different set of players,” he said.
Reigning Asian Games gold medallists and Asia champions Korea have a mix of youth and experience in their side and their fast-paced game could pose a few challenges for the Germans.
The two have met on four occasions in the World Cup, with the Germans winning twice while the remaining two were drawn.
The Netherlands, who last won the Cup in 1998, would be relying on their strong midfield, backed by a strong defence to put it across their Latin American opponents.
Midfield general Teun de Nooijer, 35, appearing in his fifth World Cup, is the fulcrum of the Netherlands side, with his ball control and elegant passing.
Argentina, on the other hand, are known for their physical game. It would be interesting to see to what extent they succeed in containing the Dutch, who are famous for their conversion of penalty corners.