Germany, Holland aim to gain momentum

In the other fourth day matches in the same pool, Argentina play Korea while New Zealand take on the Netherlands at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

Germany, eyeing a hat-trick of World Cup titles, were held 2-2 by Korea in their opening match on Monday.

The relatively inexperienced Germans were down 0-2 at the break, but rallied back in the second session by building up intense pressure with a series of well-coordinated moves. German captain Maximillan Muller said he is happy with the way the team bounced back in the second half against the Asian champions.

Muller is happy that his promising teenage striker Florian Fuchs found his touch in the opening match as the team has only three players from the previous edition.

In fact, the Dutch were the only side among the three pre-tournament favourites to have made a good beginning to their campaign. Australia were shocked by England in the first match while the German young guns barely managed to escape with the a draw against Korea.

Korea, on their part, will be looking to give another exhibition of pacy hockey in the match against Argentina. The Korean team could have surprised Germany had they maintained their level of play in the later period of second half when they went into a shell and Germany staged a comeback with goals. “We were tired in the second half after doing a lot of running in the first” said Korean captain Ho Jong Seo. In the day’s last match, the Netherlands will take on the New Zealand.