Germany have bounced back twice in this FIH Men’s World Cup and their spirit has won the hearts of coaches and former players, who all agree that reigning champions Belgium have a tough fight on their hands in Sunday’s final.
“The Germans are never ready to accept defeat. They fight till the very end. They can do miracles in the final,” said coach Peter Tirkey, the first from Odisha to represent the national team. “The defending champions will find it tough to beat a belligerent German team tomorrow (Sunday)”.
Germany, the two-time champions (2002 and 2006), struck twice against England in the last two-and-ahalf minutes of their quarter final to take it into a penalty shootout. Similarly, on Friday, trailing Australia 0-2 at half-time, they levelled scores in the dying minutes, before finding the winner with just six seconds left on the clock.
For Olympian Lazarus Barla, it’s tough to predict the final result: “Both finalists are European teams and play their own brand of hockey. So any error, any mistake in converting the penalty corner would cost dear.”
But like Tirkey, Barla too believes Germany could mount another surprise. “They have the patience and believe that the game can be changed in their favour in the last seconds. It has already been ingrained in their minds.”
Belgium seek to become only the fourth nation to defend the hockey World Cup title. While it is difficult to find any major weakness in the team — with some of the world’s finest attacking and defensive players as well as penalty corner specialists — the world No.2 side would be wary of the “German culture of resilience”.
“We have a lot of respect for the German side who came out of jail twice in this tournament and won. That is something which is there in their culture,” Belgium head coach Michel van del Heuvel said. Captain Felix Denayer said: “Germany are a very tough side. We hope to save our best for the last. We will analyse their game and chalk out our plan.”
The only chink in their armour could be that Belgium have depended mostly on star striker Tom Boon to score. Belgium have scored 18 goals with Boon contributing seven, and conceded just five in as many matches.
Former player Ignace Tirkey, who has played against Germany, said: “Belgium should not take Germany lightly. They have a good defence and besides, their penalty corner conversion rate is quite high. Drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat, who got a hat-trick on Friday against Australia, will make the difference again.”
K.C. Choudhary, coach of several of India’s hockey stars, believes that Germany have the upper hand. “The team hardly missed penalty shootouts and their conversion rate is quite high... We should salute the spirit of the Germans.”
But it would not be easy. Germany have beaten Belgium just once — in the FIH Pro League match in November last year — since July 2017.
With inputs from PTI