Defending champions Germany wary of ‘favourites’ India

Lucknow, December 4

Defending champions Germany, the most celebrated team in the history of the junior hockey World Cup, are seeking a hat-trick of title wins at this year’s tournament. Germany won the title in the last two editions (2009 and 2013) and overall, they have won the tournament a record six times. “Yes, we have won the World Cup six times and we are here for a hat-trick,” Germany head coach Valentin Altenburg said today. 

“The World Cup happens once in four years and for many players it’s a one-time opportunity to play the World Cup and win it,” said Altenburg, who was also the head coach of the senior team that won the bronze medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games this year. “So it’s not too difficult to motivate the team to do it again and this time they are chasing the goal of a hat-trick.”

Altenburg has been working closely with this bunch for three-and-a-half years and believes that this World Cup would help him spot the players who would go on to play for the senior team. “We already have a couple of Under-21 players who have played for the senior team and Timm Herzbruch played at the Olympics too,” he said. 

“We see this as the stepping stone towards being on top of the world in hockey. Junior World Cup is the stage where you can see who can be your future.”

The 34-year-old also pointed out that India would be the team to beat in the tournament. Germany had lost to India in the final of the Four Nations Tournament held in Valencia in October. “India are going to be a big favourites this World Cup and I know they have been working hard for more than two years,” he said. “Harendra (Singh) is doing a great job with the team spirit they have. And all the players are individually strong and almost everyone has played the Hockey India League, which helps them a lot to understand the highest level of hockey as they have played with or against some of the finest players in the world. I think if any team wants to be the world champions, then they have to beat India.”

Germany are grouped in Pool C with Japan, New Zealand and Spain. 

England look for good start

England team manager Paul Gannon has said that they’re looking for a strong start against South Africa, in order to build up momentum for their clash with India in their second match. “Our preparations have been good and we recently played the Johor Bahru Cup in Malaysia,” said Gannon, expressing his team’s eagerness to get started with the tournament. “We are a strong unit and we will be looking at starting the tournament with a win against South Africa, so we can carry that momentum to our second game against India.”

Earlier this year, India toured England and the two teams ended up winning two matches each. Gannon said that his boys are looking forward to renewing the rivalry. “India are a good side and we look forward to a good game against them on December 10,” Gannon said. “India are a very dominant country when it comes to world hockey and the boys are excited to play here.”

It is a homecoming of sorts for the Canadian team, which has 12 players of Indian origin. “It’s great to have these young boys who want to carry forward their legacy and family heritage of playing hockey,” said Canada coach Inderpal Sehmbi. “The team captain’s grandfather has played for Uganda in the Olympics while his father has played junior hockey for Canada. While they are of Indian origin, they take great pride in playing for Canada.”

Canada will begin their campaign against India on December 8 while England will play the hosts on December 10. — Agencies