New Delhi: Holland came up with a professional display, defeating India 3-2 in their Pool C match on the opening day of the Hero Junior Hockey World Cup here on Friday night.
Slick passes, an organised defence and a sharp strikeline were the highlights of the Dutch win. And even though India impressed in patches, poor finishing and defence is something they will need to work on ahead of their second round-robin game against Canada on Saturday.
Holland meant business, opening the scoring in the third minute itself. Milan van Baal found the top of the net as the Indian defence took time to settle.
It needed an equaliser from drag-flicker Gurjinder Singh -he converted a penalty corner 10 minutes later -to bring vigour back into the hosts' campaign.
The Dutch, though, were relentless in attack.
And even though goalkeeper Harjot Singh came up with a number of saves, the hosts finally gave way.
Striker Jelle Galema used his experience to the optimum, orchestrating continuous moves from the right and two quick goals later in the first half handed the visitors the advantage.
Mark Rijkers struck off a rebound, and van Baal added another in the 28th, making it 3-1.
Akashdeep Singh scored in the 42nd minute, but that was the only highlight of the second half as the game lost pace and intensity.
BELGIANS OPEN WITH WIN
Defending champions Germany were left playing the catch-up game against nimble-footed Belgium in Pool A going down 1-3 in an absorbing encounter, Belgium goalkeeper Arnaud Flamand was the star of the game, making crucial saves -twice in the 67th minute when the scoreline read 2-1 in Belgium's favour Maxime Capelle put Belgium ahead in the 30th minute with a deft touch, and made it a double when his pass trickled past goalkeeper Mark Appel in the 45th minute.
A Chistopher Ruhr strike in the 62nd minute gave them some hope, but custodian Flamand made no further errors. Alexander van Linthoudt scored off a counter-attack in the final minute of the game, as the Belgians registered a morale-boosting win In Pool A, Pakistan managed to withstand a strong Egypt response to post a narrow 3-2 win over the lowest ranked team in the tournament. Pakistan seemed all set for an easy win, before Egypt made into an intriguing clash.
Earlier, Korea began their campaign on a strong note thrashing Canada 7-4 (Pool C) in the tournament's opening game, while Australia too made their intentions clear with a 5-1 hammering of Argentina in a Pool B match. France edged Spain 4-3 in another Pool B game.
Results: Belgium 3 Germany 1, Pakistan 3 Egypt 2; Australia 5 Argentina 1, France 4 Spain 3; Korea 7 Canada 4l Malaysia 3 New Zealand 2; South Africa 2 England 1 Day's matches: LIVE on TEN Sports Belgium vs Egypt (2 pm), Pakistan vs Germany (4 pm), Korea vs Holland (6 pm), India vs Canada (8 pm), India vs Canada (8 pm).
To be no. 1, top coaches become number 2
To be no. 1, top coaches become number 2
Every now and then, players from Germany and Belgium looked up at the spectators’ gallery, as they engaged in an intense battle in their opening game of the Junior Hockey World Cup here on Friday afternoon.
Still learning the nuances of the game and often caught in tough situations, youngsters from both countries needed answers and some guidance.
Two men in the stands — Marcus Weise and Marc Lammers, senior coaches of Germany and Belgium, respectively — shouted instructions and erupted in exasperated and anguish when the players erred.
Germany’s Weise and Dutchman Lammers are among the most distinguished names in world hockey. And just how easily they have slipped into the role of “assistant coaches” to scout for talent to strengthen their senior squads underlines what makes them top hockeyplaying nations.
Weise, the only coach to have the distinction of guiding the mens’ and womens’ teams of a nation to Olympic golds, besides a double with the men (2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Olympics) is still not satisfied.
“I am here for the 2016 Rio Games,” Weise said in an exclusive chat with this paper. “There is constant change in the teams and we look to pick players who are the strongest at this level.
“After the senior World Cup in six months’ time, there will be a chance for these guys to make it to the next level.” For that, he doesn’t mind playing second fiddle to junior coach Andre Henning here.
Explained Weise, “We expose our players to a learning environment that enables them to grow and provides plenty of opportunity to develop their personalities. They must excel at school and in hockey, if they are not up to the task in either; they are not going to make it into the senior team. It is as simple as that.
We teach them target orientation and decision-making and we trust that luck will show up from time to time.” While Weise has been the go-to man for Germany, Lammers has taken Belgium to heights none had thought the country was capable of. Belgium have made colossal strides in the last five years, and Lammers says all this was “step by step planning” and “proper execution”.
“That is what you should call me, an assistant coach for this event,” says Lammers as he settles down for a chat.
“In Belgium, we train the junior lot with the senior team and in exactly the same way. Our system is more like what one sees in Holland. The club programme is strong and so is the national one. It is always a combination.
Every Sunday, we play a league game and in the week, we are together.
“Slowly the Under-16s and Under-18s are also coming onboard. It is a well thought-out system.” Much like Lammers, Weise too is doing background work.
