HWL 2017 Final: India beat Germany, not German spirit, to win bronze

On Sunday, when the National Anthems played before the bronze-medal match of Hockey World League (HWL) at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, 11 Germans stood hand in hand. The number of their unwell and injured players had swelled to seven and only the minimum required were available to take on India, who in the end beat the opponents 2-1, but not their spirit, to finish 2017 on the podium.

Former India coach Michael Nobbs had once said, “A sportsperson should play with coffin on the sidelines.” The visitors demonstrated that on Sunday in front of 9000 fans as the 11 Germans, who played the entire 60 minutes, collapsed on the pitch when the full-time hooter blew. 

SV Sunil (21st minute) and Harmanpreet Singh (54th) got India the goals they needed, while it was reserve goalkeeper Mark Appel, playing his second match in a row as striker, who scored off a 36th-minute slap-push from skipper Mats Grambusch to draw his team level.

This was India’s second bronze-medal finish of the year, following up on the third place at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to start 2017. It also helped India qualify for the Champions Trophy to be held next year in the Netherlands.

Last month, India had won their third Asia Cup ending a decade-long jinx. 

It’s kind of funny how sometimes maintaining focus becomes difficult even when circumstances are loaded in your favour. At the same time, having backs to the wall can bring the best out of players.

In both cases, an 11 vs 18 match still gave the Germans an equal chance, because of their never-say-die spirit and India’s scare to not concede early, because had the Germans done that, they would have played the rest of the match inside their 25-yard line.

And India never wanted that.  

“We wanted to score early,” admitted India coach Marijne. “The way they played, it was not a system we are used to.”

The Germans planted a man, reserve goalkeeper Appel, as central striker always hovering inside or on top of the Indian circle.

“The players were a little bit scared to lose the ball,” Marijne added. “I am happy with the win, because matches like these are not easy. It (11 vs 18) all plays in your head.”

It’s probably the reason why a nervous Indian defence conceded six penalty corners in the first half. It was only due to Suraj Karkera’s brilliance in the post that India could keep those out to lead 1-0 after two quarters.

Of the many field chances Indian forwards created, Sunil scored when the rebound from Tobias Walter, off Akashdeep’s hit, found the veteran striker in perfect position.

After Appel surprised India and gladdened Germany with the equalizer, India upped the tempo going into the fourth quarter, in which they earned  three of their four penalty corners. Harmanpreet scored off the last one in the 54th minute, which proved to be the winner.

But the German coach wasn’t disappointed one bit.

“It’s much more important to see the kind of spirit this team developed to push each other in such an important match. We did everything we can today. Congrats to India. The scoresheet for me is the right one. But look at this smile (points at Gramsbusch),” Stefan Kermas said hailing the spirit of his boys.