Match was tougher than what score suggests: German coach

NEW DELHI: Happy with his side’s 4-1 win over England in the Hockey World Cup semi-final, German coach Markus Weise on Thursday said that the match was tougher than what the score suggests.

“It was really tough for us there. The scoreboard does not represent what happened on the pitch,” Weise said.

Weise, known as a hard taskmaster, was satisfied with his team’s performance against England. “It’s not often that I am pleased, which is typical of any coach. Overall, I am really pleased the way all my boys played.”

The coach said whether the Germans play Australia or the Netherlands in the final does not make a difference as both the opponents are capable of putting up a tough fight.

“The team which plays in the final poses the biggest challenge,” he said.

The Germans are one win away from achieving a hat-trick of titles, but the coach said the statistics do not motivate him.

Asked about the Germans’ success in top flight hockey, he said: “Everybody wants to know the secrets. There isn’t any. It is sheer penetration, our method game.”

He also said the two early goals put pressure on England. “If we had not got the two early goals and had England got even one, things would not have been the same. It would have been closer.”

Weise also praised Martin Haner for his scoring ability. “He is doing a good job. He plays for a first division team, of which he is one of the organsiers. It puts more pressure on him. But that has made him strong. And he is a stable man.”

Martin said it is his first big tournament and he badly wants to win the World Cup.

“Even if we hadn’t won the Cup earlier, I would have wanted win it here.”

But the happiness over the showing of his boys notwithstanding, Weise’s voice had a hint of pathos. “How many times we may win the Cup, there will be no recognition for the boys. Only soccer or Formula One with Michael Schumachar matter back home. Other sports don’t really count.”

“And our victory here will not change things,” Weise added.