It is not often you hear a half-time interview in hockey that is as insightful and opinionated as the one Germany’s Rein van Eijk gave during the semifinal against India at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur.
His team had taken the lead at the very end of the half, with the hooter going just as India conceded a Penalty Corner. Eijk, though, had no qualms in admitting his side was lucky.
“Definitely a very important goal but it’s undeserving that we are in the lead right now, India are really taking us apart, we have no control over the game. We have to step up or otherwise, they are going to score 3 or 4 or 5 goals if we play this way, we have to clean up a few things. India played a fantastic half and we are very lucky at the moment,” the coach said.
We spoke to Player Of The Match Ben Hasbach after Germany entered their 9th final of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup. #RisingStars @DHB_hockey @eurohockeyorg pic.twitter.com/ObxFkhRKaM
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) December 14, 2023
In the end, that first half was the difference as India squandered a sensational fast start and, in general, impressive attacking play but failed to make their chances count.
Germany won the match eventually 4-1 but that scoreline, while deserving for Germans on the overall balance of play, didn’t quite convey how things could have been different as Uttam Singh and Co paid the price for not being efficient in front of goal. It meant a second consecutive Junior World Cup semifinal exit, both at the hands of Germany.
The pre-match talk from the Indian camp was one of confidence despite the defeats earlier against Germany. Coach CR Kumar had earmarked proper execution of plans as the key to defeating the European powerhouses. And his half-time assessment, too, was pointed: “The plans we decided on didn’t get executed properly.”
India started the match in fifth gear and generally had the better attacking outcomes but Germany took the lead in a counterattack through Ben Hasbach. Sudeep Chirmako then equalised for India in just over a couple of minutes with a brilliant finish off a reverse hit.
The second quarter too saw India create numerous chances. They won 10 penalty corners in the first half, compared to Germany’s one. That solitary PC came for an aerial infringement quite far off from goal, needless given the hooter was imminent and Germany had no chance of scoring from there. Hasbach converted that too after a scramble.
How about warming up for the first semi-final game at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023 with a push-up challenge! #Risingstars
Nikas Berendts and Tom Schmidt Didlaukies with the challenge.
SF 1 – Germany vs India – 1800 local time/1530 IST/1100 CET@DHB_hockey
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) December 14, 2023
Six-time champions Germany were the much better team in the second half though, living up to their coach’s demands. They slowed down the pace of the match, controlled the possession by keeping the passes short and crisp, and made few errors, which considerably reduced counter-attacking opportunities for India.
With India’s game losing the attacking sting due to the scoreboard pressure, Germany converted their second PC chance into a goal too, with Paul Glander (41st) getting on the scoresheet. India had a couple more PC opportunities in the second half but Florian Sperling’s 58th minute field goal sealed the deal.
India’s missed short-corner conversions were a combination of self-made errors and resolute German defending. There were a couple of poor injections, one of the PCs saw India earn a green card for delaying one. The variation that got the famous winner against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals also didn’t work. It was simply a case of when it rains, it pours as nothing worked for Kumar’s wards.
The final stats made for telling reading: India 0 goals from 12 Penalty Corners, Germany 2 goals from 2 PCs. Something about German efficiency and all that.
Germany have now beaten India thrice in the junior men’s matches this year and have reached back-to-back finals. They would be looking to go one better than in 2021, and join the senior men’s team to hold the world title.
Germany will now face France for the all-European title clash on Saturday while India will have a rematch against Spain to try and clinch bronze. In the group stage of this tournament, the Spaniards had beaten India 4-1.