ATHENS, 15 August 2004 — Pakistan’s hockey team is focusing on its potentially-explosive clash against world champions Germany knowing that the outcome of their Pool A opener would impact on their medal hopes in the Olympic Games.
Pakistan’s only real hope of an Olympic medal, rests on today’s match against the top seeded Germans and they go into the match on an upbeat note which seems to be a bit surprising as they have seldom managed to beat the European powerhouses in recent meetings.
The last time Pakistan played Germany, they were routed 6-0 in the four-nation Rabaobank Trophy in Amsterdam (Holland) earlier this summer.
But the Pakistani management and players say they have put that result behind them, adding that the outcome of their next meeting at the impressive Hellenic Sports Complex could well provide their Olympic campaign a perfect launch pad.
“We are aware that beating Germany would enhance our chances of reaching the semifinals,” said Pakistan’s assistant coach Tahir Zaman. “And we also know that a loss would make our task more difficult in the later stages of the tournament,” said the former Pakistan skipper.
Tahir agrees that the Germans have taken on an aura of invincibility around them in recent months but was quick to add that he didn’t think that they were unbeatable. “There is no team in this competition which is unbeatable and Germany is no exception. Though we all know that they come into this tournament with the best possible results in warm-up matches.”
Tahir said that Pakistan have some aces up their sleeves and would take the field against the Germans with all guns blazing.
Apart from Germany, Pakistan also have a few other “difficult” teams to tackle in their group matches. Dark horses Spain, Sydney 2000 finalists Korea and Great Britain who beat them twice in a three-nation tournament in England this summer, are in their group.
India too step into difficult opening match today determined to reclaim glory. India clash with defending champions the Netherlands in their first match at the Helliniko stadium.
The draw could have been kinder, but both India and Pakistan consider tough openers a blessing in disguise. “You have your best chance to defeat a favored team if you play them first,” said Indian assistant coach Jagbir Singh ahead of the clash against the mighty Dutch.
His Pakistani counterpart Tahir Zaman concurred. “Both sides will be vulnerable at the start, that is the right time to strike.”
India are looking for their first podium finish since winning the last of their eight Olympic gold medals at the Western-boycotted Moscow Games in 1980.
Three-time champions Pakistan have not won a major competition since the 1994 World Cup in Sydney, but the presence of goal-churning penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas always makes them a formidable opponent.
The 23-year-old has averaged almost 1.5 goals in a 205-match career, which includes a record 19 hat tricks.
It is no secret in world hockey that rival defenders are wary of conceding penalty corners when Abbas is around, but Pakistan’s Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans rubbished suggestions that his was a one-man team.
“Abbas is our best player but I rely on all 16 players. If the inspiration comes from one player, so be it,” Oltmans said.
The new penalty corner rule, introduced just before the Olympics, which bans defenders from charging into a penalty corner hit, will make Abbas a bigger force.
India, meanwhile, are struggling to find a winning combination due to an inexplicably high turnover of coaches.
They fired 14 coaches in the last 11 years before settling for unknown German, Gerhard Rach, as their first foreign coach less than three weeks before the team flew to Athens. Rach, who appears to have settled in comfortably with his new wards, believes a new-look India will be on display in this competition.
“They are the most talented bunch I have seen, they just need to get their heads right,” Rach said. “India only needs to win a big one and the floodgates will open.”
If Pakistan have Abbas, India will seek inspiration from 36-year-old Dhanraj Pillay, playing in his fourth Olympics.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals.
In other matches today, Australia meet trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand, Argentina play South Africa, South Korea clash with Spain and Britain are pitted against Egypt.
