By Avishek Roy, IANS,
New Delhi: World and Olympic champions Germany ended England’s fairytale run routing the European champions 4-1 to storm into the final of the Hockey World Cup.
Germany scored through Jan-Marco Montag (6th minute) and Oliver Korn (11) to take a 2-0 lead before Richard Smith (18) converted a penalty corner to pull one back for England. Martin Haner (31st) slotted the third goal for Germany before the halftime.
Two times champion Germany (60th) added one more through Linus Butt and remains on course for a hat-trick of titles.
With the win, Germany also avenged their loss to England in the final of the European championship last year.
Overall, Germany maintained their stupendous record against England, beating them for the fourth time in six meetings.
The young and inexperienced Germany played their best match of the tournament. The German defence stood like a rock with tight man-to-man marking, offering England no space and opportunity to maneouvre. Captain Maximilian Muller and Martin Haner did a fine job in the deep defence.
If the defence was impregnable, the attack was well-organised and effective. They forced six penalty corners and converted thre of them. Veteran Matthias Witthaus did a good job upfront.
The variations in set-piece conversions has been the highlight of the German team in the tournament. They pulled one more from their bag of tricks when Haner flicked the ball into the England goal after being beautifully set up.
All in all, England, which emreged as the surprise of the tournament after shocking Australia on the opening day and winning four matches on the trot, were outplayed by the European powerhouse. England goalkeer James Fair maintained his good show with some startling saves. In the first half he saved a certain goal when he stopped the rebound from Witthaus within touching distance from the goalline.
Fair, however, could do little while trying to stop the powerful dragflick of Montag and ended up deflecting the ball into the goal that opened Germany’s scoring.
Korn increased the lead deflecting a penalty corner into goal from close range.
England stepped up the attack and Smith scored from one of them, pushing the ball into German goal. Haner then scored through Germany fourth penalty corner.
Germany thwarted moves of English comeback in the second half with some resolute defending. England’s well-built moves could not find past the German defence.
English captain Barry Middleton got an opportunity in front of the goalmouth but custodian Tim Jessulat denied him.
On another ocassion, Ashley Jackson sent a fine cross from the right, but there was nobody to connect it.
Germany then converted their 12th penalty corner in the tournamment through Butt.