Four top-ranked teams make it to FIH Men’s semi-finals as expected World But with Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium slightly separated, it is difficult to predict which of the two will continue their quest for the title after the last four leg matches here on Friday.
In the first semi-final in the Battle of the Lowlands at the Kalinga Stadium, world number one Australia will face Germany, who are ranked fourth in the FIH charts.
Of the four teams, world number three and three-time champions the Netherlands advanced to the semi-finals with a 5–1 win over South Korea in their quarterfinal match, punching above their weight.
Germany, which has won the tournament twice but made it to the last four for the first time since 2010, had the toughest route to the semi-finals. They had to play in a crossover after finishing second in their pool, while the other three teams qualified directly for the quarter-finals.
Germany were out of the semi-final race after trailing 0-2 until the 58th minute of their quarter-final match against a formidable England side, but Die Hönnämäs, who never gave up in the last two minutes, scored through the Grambusch brothers to take the game. Scored two goals through. for the penalty shootout, which they won 4–3.
Australia, the bronze medalists from the previous edition, may start as slight favorites against Germany but it will be anyone’s game as the Kookaburras have shown their vulnerability in two of the four matches they have played so far in this World Cup .
Australia needed a 58th-minute strike from star penalty corner specialist Blake Govers to secure a draw against Argentina in their pool match.
They trailed 0–2 just before half time against Spain in the quarter-finals and came from behind to win the match 4–3. The match could have gone to a penalty shootout – where it could have been anyone’s game – but Spain captain Marc Miralles missed a costly penalty stroke.
Australia have scored the most goals from penalty corners, nine of which have come from set pieces. He has scored 24 goals, second only to the Netherlands (27) in top form from penalty corner specialists Jeremy Hayward and Blake Govers.
Hayward is currently the top goal scorer with seven strikes while Govers is joint third with five.
Australia’s physical and attacking play would be matched by the Germans who could play a well organized defense and counter-attacking hockey as well as a power game.
Captain Matt Grambusch and his younger brother Tom, as well as five-goal scorer Niklas Wellen, will be key players for Germany, while penalty corner specialist Gonzalo Peillat will also be expected to do well after scoring just two goals so far.
“We have to give our best, there is no escape from it. It’s going to be a tough match,” Australia captain Aran Zaleski said ahead of the semi-final.
“Australia are a great team, very strong physically and with some very good individual players. But it is what we have. We will analyze our game and improve, especially with the ball. It is going to be a tough match.” But hopefully we’ll get through it,” said Germany captain Mats Grambusch.
Playing in their 12th consecutive semi-final, Australia will be looking to make their fifth final appearance in the last six editions and win their third title in the last four editions. They were runners-up in 2002 and 2006, winning the titles in 2010 and 2014 before winning bronze in the previous edition.
The Netherlands will be looking for their third straight final but will face their toughest test of the tournament in the form of defending champions and Olympic gold medalists Belgium.
The Dutch haven’t faced much resistance from any opposition, be it in the pool stage where they won all three of their matches comfortably or in the quarter-finals.
The second semi-final will be a contest between one of the oldest and youngest sides in the tournament.
Belgium have 11 players above the age of 30, while the Netherlands have eight under 25 and only two above 30.
The Red Sticks, who have come to Tokyo with almost all their gold-winning players, deserve the most and are undoubtedly among the most experienced sides.
The Netherlands have scored the most goals in the tournament with 27 strikes and Friday’s second semi-final will be a contest between the most attacking side against a team with high pressure and a top-class attack and defense with the added advantage of winning the most important game .
Belgium will rely mostly on Tom Boon – the second-highest scorer with six strikes – for goals, while Arthur Van Doren and Arthur De Slover will be the main men in defense after losing Alexander Hendrickx to injury. Captains Felix Denayer and Victor Vagnez will try to control the midfield.
The Dutch, on the other hand, are expected to continue their attacking spree with striker Koen Bijne and captain Thierry Brinkmann scoring five goals each.
Drag-flicker Jip Jansen will be their main penalty corner taker and he has also been in fine form with five goals in four matches.
It’s always special to play against Belgium. They are a very experienced team, the oldest team in the tournament. We are one of the youngest sides. We want to go out and play free-flowing hockey. It will be an interesting game against Belgium,” said Netherlands coach Jeroen Delmy, who won two Olympic gold medals as a player.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)