BHUBANESWAR – Pakistan lost to Germany by 0-1 in the Hockey World Cup 2018 opening match in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar here on Saturday.
Germany’s Miltkau Marco scored the only goal for his side in the third quarter of the game. Team Pakistan played well throughout the match but unfortunately didn’t succeed to goal score in the stipulated time.
Pakistan won the World Cup in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994 while Germany lifted the trophy twice in 2002 and 2006. Currently, Pakistan are ranked 13th in the FIH rankings whereas Germany stand at sixth position.
The two sides have met eight times at the World Cup. In 1982 they came across twice, during the pool game and the final. Out of these, Pakistan stood victorious in five matches, including the penalty shootout win at 1994 semi-final.
1975 (semifinal) Pakistan beat Germany 5-1
1978 (semifinal) Pakistan beat Germany 1-0
1982 (pool) Pakistan beat Germany 5-3, (Final) Pakistan beat Germany 3-1,
1990 (pool) Germany beat Pakistan 1-0
1994 (semifinal) Pakistan beat Germany on a penalty shootout after 1-1
2002 (pool) Germany beat Pakistan 3-2
However, despite winning four of the first eight World Cups, Pakistan’s fortunes nosedived and the Green Shirts have failed to reach semifinal since 1994.
On the contrary, Germany have been a consistent performer. After finishing 5th in the inaugural World Cup, they made at least to the semis in each of the next 11 editions, before missing out during the last World Cup in 2014 when they ended sixth.
Germans also did not do well at the last Euro Hockey Nations Championships in 2017 where they were fourth. It was their first out of podium finish in the biennial event since 2007. In fact, Germany had won two and ended runners-up the other two times in the intervening four Euro Hockey Nations Championships.
The German hockey team might not be doing well in recent times by its own standards but they start as the favourites against Pakistan, ranked seven places below.
Pakistan can surprise Germans if they reproduce the form displayed at this year’s Champions Trophy where they defeated Olympic Champions Argentina, drew against World number three Belgium and lost only 1-2 to the World Champions and No 1 ranked Australia.
The mega-event features host India, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands, Spain, New Zealand, and Pakistan and will continue till December 16.
Pakistan will play against Malaysia December 5.
