PAKISTAN’S SECOND WORLD CUP TITLE IN 1978:

By S.Pervez Qaiser

The World Cup came to South America for the first time. Fourteen nations participated in the fourth edition played at Campo del Polo, Buenos Aires from March 18 to April 1, 1978. From this World Cup, the tournament would be held every four years, in between the Olympic years and in the same year as the football World Cup.

Pakistan kept the flame of Asian hockey burning brightly. In the pool matches, Pakistan snuffed out Holland 3-1 and Spain 2-1. In the semi-finals, Pakistan beat Germany by a solitary goal, scored in extra-time by Islahuddin. In the finals, Pakistan defeated Holland 3-2 to lift the 4th World Cup. Despite Paul Litjens’ blistering penalty corners (he scored a tournament-high 15 goals), Pakistan remained the only undefeated team in the World Cup, and won their second world title.

Australia took the third spot by beating Germany 4-3.

Defending champion, India ended up sixth in this World Cup. The fourth World Cup in Buenos Aires started the slide from grace for India. After being placed 3rd in the 1971 World Cup, 2nd in the 1973 World Cup and 1st in the 1975 World Cup, India would never again make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup competition.

As many as 224 goals were scored in 55 matches at 4.07 goals per match. Holland’s Paul Litjens topped the goal scoring list with 15 goals.

FINAL STANDING IN 1978:

Country P W D L GF GA
1. Pakistan 8 8 – – 35 4

2. Holland 8 6 – 2 26 14

3. Australia 8 6 – 2 24 13

4. Germany 8 3 2 3 28 18

5. Spain 8 5 1 2 11 5

6. India 8 4 1 3 11 16

7. England 8 2 3 3 11 10

8. Argentina 8 2 2 4 12 18

9. Poland 8 4 – 4 17 25

10. Malaysia 8 2 2 4 9 11

11. Canada 8 2 2 4 14 19

12. Ireland 8 1 1 6 10 22

13. Italy 7 1 – 6 3 29

14. Belgium 7 1 2 4 13 20

PAKISTAN RETAINS THE WORLD CUP IN 1981-82.

By S.Pervez Qaiser

The World Cup returned to Asia, this time to India. It was the last time an international hockey tournament was played on grass. Twelve teams featured in this edition played at Wankhede, BHA Stadium, Mumbai from December 29, 1981 to January 12, 1982. Soviet Union were the new entrants. The tournament saw experimental rules like the hit-in and pass-back to start and restart proceedings, eliminating the bully-off, long corner, sticks and roll-in.

The all-conquering Pakistan joined Australia, the Netherlands and Germany in the semi-finals. At Buenos Aires in the previous World Cup, Pakistan had defeated Germany in the semis and Holland in the final to emerge tops. This time they met Holland in the semi-finals, while Australia and Germany contested the other semi-final.

Pakistan went on to beat Holland 4-2, with goals from Hanif Khan, Kaleemullah, Hassan Sardar and Manzoor, Sr. Paul Litjens scored both goals for Holland. Germany beat Australia, who were unbeaten till then, 8-5 on penalties in the other semi-final after the teams were locked 3-3 at the end of extra-time.

In the final, Pakistan proved too good for West Germany, winning 3-1. Hassan Sardar, Manzoor Jr and Kaleemullah scored for Pakistan while Heiner Dopp got Germany’s lone goal. It was the second consecutive World Cup that Pakistan ended up unbeaten.

Australia defeated Holland 4-2 to win the third spot. India end up fifth by beating Sovite Union 5-1. A small consolation for India was that Rajinder Singh emerged top scorer with 12 goals. The tournament is best remembered for the opportunism and goal-poaching skills of Pakistani centre forward Hassan Sardar, who scored 10 goals.

As many as 203 goals were scored in 42 matches at 4.83 goals per match.
FINAL STANDING IN 1981-82:

Country P W D L GF GA

1. Pakistan 7 7 – – 38 12
2. Germany 7 4 1 2 17 16

3. Australia 7 6 – 1 20 10
4. Holland 7 3 1 3 21 19
5. India 7 5 – 2 29 15
6. Soviet Union 7 1 3 3 11 20
7. New Zealand 7 3 – 4 18 23
8. Poland 7 2 – 5 8 18
9. England 7 3 1 3 10 15
10. Malaysia 7 1 1 5 11 20
11. Spain 7 2 1 4 11 14
12. Argentina 7 1 – 6 9 21

AUSTRALIA’S MAIDEN TITLE IN 1986:

By S.Pervez Qaiser
The sixth World Cup was played at Willesden, London from October 4 to 19, 1986. The tournament was awarded to England as 1986 marked the centenary celebrations of the Hockey Association, which was formed on January 18, 1886, in London.


This tournament also marked a new low in South Asian hockey. Both India and Pakistan had a miserable tournament, finishing 12th and 11th, respectively. Pakistan won the match between the humiliated Asian giants for the 11th spot, leaving India with the wooden spoon.


England, Germany, Australia and the Soviet Union completed the semi-final line-up. Australia, spearheaded by Richard Charlesworth, easily beat the Soviet Union in the semi-finals and went on to beat England 3-2 in the final in front of a capacity crowd to register their first and only World Cup triumph. England had beaten Germany 3-2 to enter the final.


Germany claimed the third spot beating Soviet Union by 3-2 in extra time. Both teams shared four goals in full time.


As many as 146 goals were scored in 42 matches at 3.45 goals per match. Charlesworth was the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals.


FINAL STANDING IN 1986:

Country P W D L GF GA Success%
1. Australia 7 6 1 – 31 7

2. England 7 5 – 2 13 8

3. Germany 7 3 3 1 14 9

4. Soviet Union 7 4 – 3 8 9

5. Spain 7 4 1 2 14 16

6. Argentina 7 2 1 4 8 10

7. Holland 7 5 – 2 13 8

8. Poland 7 2 1 4 10 17

9. New Zealand 7 2 1 4 9 13

10. Canada 7 1 1 5 6 16

11. Pakistan 7 2 – 5 12 17

12. India 7 1 1 5 8 16

HOLLAND WINS SECOND WORLD CUP IN 1990:
By S.Pervez Qaiser

Pakistan finally had the privilege of hosting the World Cup Hockey tournament. They were to host the inaugural edition in 1971, but security concerns in the subcontinent forced the tournament to be shifted to Barcelona, Spain. The seventh World Cup was played at National Hockey Stadium, Lahore from February 12 to 23.

France were back in the World Cup fold after their appearance in the inaugural edition, while Ireland returned after 12 years.

For the first time, India had to qualify. The eight-time Olympic champions had to go through a qualifying tournament in New Jersey, the Inter-Continental Cup, in 1989. They emerged among the top four and made the grade.

Pakistan made it to the semi-finals. Germany, Australia and Holland completed the semi-final line up. In the semi-finals, Pakistan disposed of Australia 2-1, while Holland beat Germany 3-2 in extra-time to advance to the final.

The final was watched by more than 60,000 fans. But Dutch penalty-corner ace Floris Jan Bovelander dashed any hopes the home crowd may have entertained by slamming in two goals as Holland beat Pakistan 3-1. Gijs Weterings got Holland’s other goal while Shahbaz Ahmed scored the lone goal for the home side. Ahmed was later voted ‘Player of the Tournament’. He had scored the first hat-trick of the tournament in Pakistan’s 6-3 win over Spain. Floris Jan Bovelander also had the honour of registering a hat-trick in the Netherlands’ 5-2 hammering of the Sovit Union

As many as 147 goals were scored in 42 matches at 3.50 goals per match. Spain’s penalty corner specialist Igancio Escude, who scored a hat-trick against England, was the top goalscorer with 10 goals.

FINAL STANDING IN 1990:

Country P W D L GF GA
1.Holland 7 5 1 1 21 13
2. Pakistan 7 4 1 2 13 10
3. Australia 7 6 – 1 17 7
4. Germany 7 5 – 2 16 7
5. England 7 4 1 2 12 7
6. Soviet Union 7 2 2 3 8 12
7. France 7 3 1 3 9 13
8. Spain 7 3 – 4 14 16
9. Argentina 7 3 1 3 15 15
10. India 7 1 1 5 12 18
11. Canada 7 1 1 5 6 11
12. Ireland 7 – 1 6 4 18