Highlights, India vs Germany, Hockey World League Final 2017, Scores and Updates: Visitors win 2-0

India finish their campaign with just one point.

One will have to wait for tomorrow’s Pool A matches to know who they play in the QF’s.

Most probably it will be Belgium if everything goes to plan there.

India is in a huddle at the other end.

Would be interesting to know what the coach is saying at the moment.

India have to seriously look at themselves and ask whether the tactics are right or not.

Too many questions. Not many answers yet.

This will be one disappointed Indian team.

They were never in the match.

Few chances. PC’s didn’t have the bite.

After the 1-1 draw with Australia in their first game, it’s been downhill.

AND THAT’S IT.

GERMAN GOALKEEPER SAVES THE FLICK.

GERMANY WIN THE MATCH 2-0.

INDIA NEED TO DO A LOT.

And India get another PC.

Can they score and at least get a goal?

But they don’t get it.

No PC here.

It’s almost over.

But India want another referral.

Seconds left.

Ball is deflected off.

India want a referral.

India have to press to get something out of this match.

And they get a 3rd PC.

India clearly out of depth here.

Time running out.

Possession. Possession. Possession.

Germany’s mantra in this match.

Germany with less than 8 minutes remaining lead 2-0

Yawning gap at the top.

The HWL has shown that India needs more work.

Germany’s relentless control.

Sending the ball back from India’s striking circle back into German half.

Can India get two goals in 15 minutes?

Not impossible.

But the way India is going around the game, it’s a distant possibility.

No fluency in any pass.

In 3 quarters, India has probably stitched 4-5 passes that may have worried Germany.

After a long time, Harmanpreet gets a decent cross into Lalit.

But that’s the end of the 3rd quarter.

Germany lead 2-0.

Fans are getting restless now.

India not able to excercise any authority on the match.

Almost 20 turn overs by now against India.

Mandeep Singh had the ball in the German striking circle. But pushes wide.

Harmanpreet’s flick deflected off.

And now off a counter India has a PC.

There is no structure in sight.

India losing the ball constantly.

And now Germany has a PC.

No PC for India.

Germany wins the referral.

3rd quarter starts.

India has a huge task.

In the starting minutes, India trying to force the pace.

Good move coming from India as Manpreet forces Germans into defensive mode.

It’s India’s 2nd PC now.

But Germany want a referral.

It’s like after the match against Australia, they just lost their bearings.

Modern hockey is not about running and hitting.

It’s about controlling the pace. Germany is doing it brilliantly.

Even if India has a different style, control is the bed rock of any international side.

Maybe, Marijne would try and understand what is happening here.

It’s not the 2-0 lead for Germany.

But the fact that India are nowhere in the game.

There is no control.

Indian captain Manpreet is getting frustrated with the players.

For someone who played with Sardar, he must be wondering where control has gone.

THAT’S THE END OF THE 2ND QUARTER.

GERMANY LEAD 2-0.

COMPLETELY OUT OF SYNC HERE.

Walter Tobias saves. Pushes Rupinder’s weak flick away.

India still in the German half.

Trying to find a goal.

This team lacks control at the back.

Absolutely no rotation happening.

India get their first PC of the match in the 2nd quarter.

One of the few Indian attacks.

Nothing much.

Except Germany’s Ferdinand gets a green card.

India want a referral. Looking for a PC.

Something strange is happening here.

Indian players are just not in position.

Rupinder Pal Singh playing up.

Knowing he doesn’t have the speed to fall back.

Close call for Germany.

Mandeep Singh shot as German goalkeeper stretches to save.

But no Indian there to pick up the deflect.

Then Akashdeep has an opportunity.

But the shot is wide.

GOAL!

GOAL!

THAT WAS A SOFT GOAL.

MATS GRAMBUSCH HIT DEFLECTS OFF LAKRA’S STICK. CHIKTE NO CHANCE.

GERMANY LEAD 2-0.

Well, third match in the HWL and India is seriously missing Surender Kumar, the full back who was rested or dropped.

India had the chance to equalise.

Akashdeep cross but Sunil doesn’t trap right in front of goal.

GOAL!

GOAL!

THE CAPTAIN MARTIN HANER SQUEEZES THE FLICK IN.

GERMANY LEADS 1-0.

And that’s the 1st PC of the match.

Goes to Germany.

That’s the end of the 1st quarter.

Germany have had almost total possession.

That could have been close.

Chinglensana moving into the German striking circle. But the pass goes free.

Players not reading the ball.

Turn overs happening to fast for India.

If they have the ball, they give it easily away.

Manpreet needs to play the main role with a free man behind.

Germany not worried about pace.

They are controlling the movements.

Moving into positions smoothly.

India has defended now for ten minutes.

India in the German half.

Rotating now. 

But Manpreet’s pass is wide.

India need to control and hold the game.

Germans back in the Indian striking circle.

Two shots already on the Indian goal.

India better be careful.

Initial bit of burst from India and back to Germany.

That was a lovely ball from Varun to Akashdeep.

But nobody there to take the shot in.

Two minutes of Germany domination on.

India not getting a touch.

Great control by the Germans.

The countdown is on.

Upfront, Gurjant, Sunil and Akashdeep.

There they go.

Great moment here.

Fans singing the National Anthem with the team.

Teams are in a huddle now.

Just a few moments away now.

We will have the National Anthems now.

Germany go first with the hosts second.

The teams getting ready to come onto the pitch.

And that’s India and Germany coming on.

Few minutes away from what should be an exciting match.

In the last five matches between both the nations, India are still to win.

Germany has won three matches with two drawn.

In the last match played at Dusseldorf in June 2017, Germany won 2-0.

Germany is a tough customer and extremely difficult to play.

They remain fixed to a playing pattern and are extremely tenacious as opponents.

In the Hockey World League, however, India has the edge as both have played thrice with India winning once and two matches drawn.

Stats not in favour of India when it come to head-to-head with Germany.

India and Germany have played 96 matches of which India have won only 18 and lost 52.

Interesting part is that 26 have been drawn!

Team list is out with Akash Chikte playing the first half as goalkeeper. India normally change after the 2nd quarter.

Will be interesting to check how India play after that disappointing 2-3 defeat to England.

Lovely sight to see the fans standing and applauding both the teams – England and Australia.

The Kalinga Stadium is also the home of the Kalinga Lancers, the winners of the Hockey India League.

Fans packing it in now for the India Vs Germany game; 3rd match of the Pool.

Welcome to the Kalinga Stadium. 

Great sight to see the stands filled up again.

Hockey seems to be the popular sport now in this part of the country.

Fans have also witnessed an amazing 2-2 draw between Australia and England – fast paced hockey.

In another 25 minutes or so, India will square up against Germany.

Just in: Australia’s match against England ends in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

In the meantime, enjoy this goal fest from the match between Argentina and Netherlands

????: Enjoy the highlights from this goal fest between @ArgFieldHockey & @oranjehockey in the the Odisha Men’s #HWL2017 Final in Bhubaneswar on 3rd December. #JunoonJeetKa pic.twitter.com/v0CSTDQOeJ

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 4, 2017

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India’s match against Germany at the Hockey World League Final set to take place at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. 

It has been a not so good campaign for India so far. They drew 1-1 against the mighty Australia in their first match while they suffered a 2-3 defeat at the hands of England. Germany, on the other hand, have four points from a win and a loss.