Germany Indian encounters are always enchanting chapters of hockey

Even when its performance used to be in the nadir – that was the case in the late 80s and 90s – Indian hockey used to dish out decent fare against Germany.

Hardly the Germans used to steamroll India as was the case with most other performers Australia in particular.

If one leaves aside Pakistan, its Germany-India encounters that can go well into the memory as the most exciting of Indian turf show.

On the eve of India taking on not-so-young German team in the ongoing Punjab Gold Cup, one cannot but reminisce those specs of spectacular episodes.

We need not go back to oft repeated Dhyan Chand feats in Berlin of Hitler era. But at an obscure city in Germany — where the last World Cup was held.

At the tong twister of a city – Monchengladbach – India and Germany met in the 2006 World Cup opener.

The opening ceremony of the World Cup in the newly built stadium was scheduled to commence after this encounter.

One can easily guess the confidence the host has had in themselves of victory over India that the opening ceremony was to follow after this match.

They were nearly proved wrong. India equaled both the German goals. The goal young Shivender scored – a surge from right flank, whole defence outfoxed, goalie wrong-footed, a grounder that was a bullet — India came close to dash their enthusiasm. It was a dream start for India, so thought many. Coach Bernhard Peters, who dreamt of defending the World Cup at home turf – was a worried men, till the last 17seconds from the hooter.

As if it was ordained, a freehit was deflected in by Christopher Zeller when just 17 seconds left on the clock. Oh God, Germany retrieved full three points. How the ball went inside the net when the whole Indian team was defending is worth of a copybook video study.

Perhaps this godsend goal stood in good stead for the hosts that they went on to win the World Cup 10 days later.

Despite the loss, India was not disgraced — but were obviously devastated — till it met the English next day. The same team that sent shivers down the Germans only 18 hours before went down tamely to the English next day despite Adrian saving two penalty strokes.

That India finished 11th while the Peters team peaked the summit is a different story altogether, but the point is that India gave a tough time to Germans.

Present chief coach Harendera Singh was part of the coaching team then. He is therefore more than alive to the fact that a game is not finished till the hooter is sounded – certainly not against Germany, at least.

Having already conceded a goal three minutes before the close – against Netherlands here in the Punjab Gold Cup – India has to come out of the last minute blues in case it wants to make a match of it at Chandigarh, where hockey strikes right chord among the populace.

Having scored a late goal against the Kiwis, Germany has already served its notice that till the hooter goes they are there in the game.

In the last ten meetings, two victories are in the Indian side. Those two wins came when Germany sent its second team to the 2003 and 2004 Champion Trophies.

One more can come right at Sector 42 stadium.