India vs Germany LIVE, men’s hockey preview: New Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium is set to host an international game after a decade with the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian team facing Germany in first match of a two-Test series on Wednesday. India will be hoping to exact revenge against the Germans, who defeated them 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final showdown in the Paris Olympics in August.
While Germany would end up collecting silver after losing the gold medal match against Netherlands on penalties, India would go on to defeat Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal playoff to win back-to-back medals in the Olympics for the first time in five decades. They had previously defeated Germany 5-4 in the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal match three years ago.
With hockey matches in India primarily taking place at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium and Ranchi’s Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium, the iconic stadium in the national capital has been overlooked with the venue last hosting a men’s international match in 2014 and a women’s international the following year.
While Germany lead India in the overall head-to-head record, winning 54, losing 26 and drawing 27 in 107 meetings. The Indians, however, enjoy a 3-2 lead when it comes to the last five meetings between the two teams.