By  K ARUMUGAM

No captain? No problem. Germany head coach Valentin Altenburg said pre-match that the entire team would play for Benedikt Schwarzhaupt, their injured captain and influential defender.

And that they did with a 4-2 win over hosts and defending champions India in the semi-finals of the 2021 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Germany, now eye an incredible seventh crown on Sunday when they take on Argentina who won their only title in 2005 while India will pick themselves up for the bronze medal match against France preceding the final.

The taller, better-built Germans played their strategy to a T. They didn’t allow India the leeway Belgium offered and kept to a half-court press for much of the match, dominated the midfield channels and kept India’s penalty corner count to the minimum – just one in the entire contest.

India, on their part, seemed laden-footed on the day. The effervescence of the forwards dimmed, their midfield seemed to run out of ideas and the defence faltered – none more so than the last line that stood up so marvelously in the match against Belgium.

Prashant Chauhan effected a fine save off Germany’s first penalty corner but lost sight of the ball during the second such award, failed to clear and presented Erik Kleinlein the opportunity to put Germany ahead in the 15th minute.

The defence was again at sixes and sevens when Pawan, alternating with Chauhan, and Manjeet failed to intercept a high ball from Phillip Hozmueller that entered the goal to make it 2-0 for Germany.

When Hannes Muller reverse hit a cross from the right into the net from the top of the circle to make it 3-0, Germany were a shade away from ending it as a contest.

India, however, rekindled the flame when Uttam Singh, impressive in the campaign, deflected into the net to reduce the margin but the fourth goal by Germany from a penalty stroke following their third penalty corner deflated India.

Christopher Kutter stepped up to beat Pawan to make it 4-1 and enable his team to put one foot in the final as the half-time hooter sounded.

India raised their game a notch or two in the second half by way of regaining shape in defence but Germany never let up in composure and domination of spaces.

India created chances rarely but one such went begging. Manjeet Singh swung and missed with the goalkeeper at his mercy. A goal in the third quarter may just have provided the tonic to put the German defence under pressure and perhaps spark a resurgence.

Instead, it were Germany threatening to score and the fourth penalty corner they forced drew Pawan to a save.

As the minutes ticked away at the start of the final quarter, India failed to infuse energy into their endeavours to get back into the match, however bleak the prospects.

A goal on the dot of full-time by Boby Singh Dhami who flashed the ball across Anton Brinckman’s goal and high into the far corner of the net did much for a better-looking scoreline.