Champions Trophy: Greenshirts fall on final hurdle as Germans prevail

Underdogs Pakistan lose 2-0 in the final against the Olympic champions.

KARACHI:

Olympic winners Germany defeated Pakistan 2-0 in the final of the Champions Trophy yesterday to claim the trophy for the 10th time in Bhubaneswar, India.

The tournament had started off in the worst possible way for Pakistan, with a cloud hanging over their participation as the Pakistan Hockey Federation struggled to generate funds. The Greenshirts finished bottom of their group after losing all three matches, including a humiliating 8-2 reversal against England.

However, the side came to life in the knockout stages, which they reached courtesy of a baffling format in which no side was to be eliminated in the group stages. Having defeated Group B winners, the Netherlands in the quarter-finals and hosts India in the semi-finals, Pakistan made their way into the final against all odds. However, they did so without Ali Amjad Hussain and Muhammad Tausiq Umar, who were suspended for the final for their unsporting celebrations after the win in the semis.



Chris Wesley opened the scoring in the 18th minute following a penalty corner before Florian Fuchs banged in the second goal three minutes before the final whistle to break the hearts of the underdogs. However, the scoreline could have been much more extravagant as both sides squandered numerous gilt-edged chances.

Some 7,000 Indian fans at the Kalinga stadium cheered wildly as the young Germans, with seven junior World Cup winners from 2013 in their side, won back the Champions title they had last won in 2007.

Despite the loss, the runners-up position is an almost
miraculous achievement for the Greenshirts, who had failed to qualify for the World Cup in June for the first time in their history and also ceded their Asian Games title to India.

“We tried our best to win the final but made some mistakes,” said captain Muhammad Imran after the match. “But reaching this point is a great achievement for the team and our nation. At least we have made a good comeback against the best sides in the world.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s goalkeeper Imran Butt
condemned the events that marred their semi-final win. “We were really happy that we defeated India but
disappointed at whatever happened from our side, as well as from the Indians,” he said. “This should not happen in sports.”

Australia claim third

Australia, who had come into the tournament as five-time defending champions, finished third as they defeated India 2-1 for the bronze medal.

In the day’s other matches, the Netherlands took fifth place after beating Argentina 4-1 and England nudged ahead of Belgium 3-2 to finish  seventh.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th,  2014.

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