LAHORE, 12 December 2004 — Asian rivals Pakistan and India would play sidekicks in a battle for bronze as European powerhouses Holland and Spain clash in the ultimate showdown of the Champions Trophy here at the National Hockey Stadium today.
Holland are seen as favorites to complete a hat trick of titles but Spain have shown time and again they have the guts to stun the high-flying Dutch.
Local hockey fans are expected to flock the National Stadium on the final day but their sights would be focused on an earlier game, the mouthwatering clash between Pakistan and India. Almost 45,000 fans watched the two teams clashed earlier in the league stages of the tournament.Looking for their third bronze medal finish in a row, Pakistan aim to overcome the dejection of losing out a spot in the final to Spain and finish off the tournament with a consolation win over India.
The Indians start as underdogs after losing to Pakistan on a series of occasions but are harvesting hopes of upsetting the greenshirts for their first Champions Trophy medal since 1982.
It would be the third successive time Pakistan and India would play in the playoff for the third position. Pakistan beat their rivals on the previous two occasions.
But the hosts are not taking anything for granted.
“A match against India is never easy,” says Pakistan coach Roelant Oltmans. “We have beaten them several times this year but this would be a new game and my team will have to come out with its best,” adds the Dutchman who will be featuring in his last match as Pakistan coach as his contract expires at the end of this six-nation tournament.
Pakistan struggled to beat India 2-1 in a league game and would be looking toward their short corner specialist Sohail Abbas to inspire them to a face-saving victory.
Sohail, world hockey’s highest scorer, is one of the major reasons why Pakistan have won eleven matches against India this year.
“I will try to give my best tomorrow,” says Sohail.
The Indian camp was confident of neutralizing Sohail after it was confirmed that young goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza would play the game. D’Souza, who has a good track record against Sohail, suffered from a hamstring problem in India’s previous game against New Zealand but has fully recovered to take his place in India’s starting line-up.
Indian coach Gerhard Rach concedes Pakistan are a stronger team but refuses to rule out India’s chances of winning the bronze.
“There is no doubt that Pakistan are superior than us,” said the burly German. “But it will all depend on how the two teams play tomorrow.”
One can expect a lot of fireworks in the final where Holland and Spain play for a major title for the first time.
Holland desperately want to retain the Champions Trophy gold in a bid to make amends for their defeat to Australia in the final of the Olympic Games in Athens this summer.
“We have had a good tournament and would like to end it on a winning note,” comments Holland coach Terry Walsh, a former Olympian from Australia.
