By IANS,
New Delhi: Dutch coach Michel van den Huevel feels his team’s next clash with defending champions Germany in the Hockey World Cup here Sunday will be a battle of tactics.
The Dutch and Germans share a great rivalry in hockey and the encounter between the two sides has often matched the excitement of an India-Pakistan clash.
“Obviously, Dutch and the Germans are great rivals in hockey. But while a India-Pakistan game is a very open match, a Netherlands-Germany encounter is the battle of tactics,” said Huevel after his team blanked Canada 6-0 to climb atop Pool A with nine points from three matches at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here Friday.
“Both the teams play a tactical game and they are aware of each other’s weaker points.”
Skipper Teun de Nooijer, however, is not thinking about Sunday’s high intensity encounter.
“Each match in a World Cup is important for us, but now I don’t want to think about the next match. Today we won a great match. Nine points from three matches is a great show from the boys,” he said.
The Netherlands played out a goal-less first half with Canada, but came back strongly in the second half and pumped in all the six goals.
“Canada were tired in the second half. But my players had lot of energy left and played cleverly to score six goals,” said Nooijer.
Asked if he was happy with the conversion rates of star drag-flicker Taeke Taekema, Nooijer said: “I am not worrying about him. You can have a bad day in office.”