Numbers game will decide semifinalists

With four teams and two semifinals spots up for grabs, the last league matches in Pool A on Tuesday are going to largely be a numbers game.

The Netherlands who could have confirmed their place in the semis were stretched to a draw by Germany on Monday, leaving the teams in this pool tangled in a mathematical puzzle.
Here’s a look at the three matches and what they mean to the teams.

Germany vs New Zealand

Playing the first match of the day, the defending champions should look for an outright win against the Black Sticks and wait for the evening to unfold. The defending champions are currently placed second with eight points.

The Germans will have to pack their defence and penetrate the Kiwis striking circle in counter-attacks to gain the upper hand.

The Kiwis on the other hand, will have to beat Germany and then pray that Korea beat the Dutch by at least two goals to advance. Markus Weise’s boys will go all out to stay in line for the first hat-trick in World Cup history.

New Zealand have six points and are in the fourth spot.

Netherlands vs Korea

Twelve summers ago the Dutch were the champions, sliding to third in 2002 and finishing seventh in the previous edition. But the past was forgotten as Teun de Nooijer’s men have fought valiantly over the past week, winning all but the one match against the Germans on Monday.
The draw against Germany and Korea’s hammering of Canada has queered their otherwise smooth road into the semifinals.

If not a win, the Dutch will at least look to draw against the Asian giants. This may make them defensive, but with a man like Guss Vogels in goal, they would rather worry about the midfield, and thwart the Koreans there.

Although the Koreans were mercurial in the last two matches, they have slowed down considerably, but they could pose a threat to the ‘Oranjes’. Especially after they re-entered the semifinal race with the 9-2 win over Canada.

Argentina vs Canada

These two teams will play their last outing for pride and more importantly, Argentina for revenge. Canada, the Pan-American champions had come in way of Argentina’s direct entry into the World Cup and also the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Canada will put their heart into the match, as skipper Ken Pereira said, “We have had so much support from our families which have travelled with us here. We will try hard to win a match for them.”

Armed with drawing boards, calculators and a prayer on the lips the four coaches will wait for the high voltage dramas to unfold.

Manuja Veerappa