Dwyer proud of the achievement

Kamesh Srinivasan

NEW DELHI: “We are very happy to win the World Cup, particularly after losing the final the last two times. Very proud of the achievement, and Australia was the better team not only today but through the tournament, though we lost the first match”, said the captain of the Australian team Jamie Dwyer, on the team’s crowning glory in the hockey World Cup on Saturday.

Coach Ric Charlesworth who was sitting away from the team bench to take a top view from the stands said that people do not really appreciate how good it was to make the final of a World Cup, and said that the team reaching the final the last two times was a terrific performance in itself, but the current team was ready to make its own history.

The Australian coach recalled how the team had consistently beaten Germany in the last three matches, including the Champions Trophy final.

Charlesworth was categorical in saying that it would have been a travesty of justice had Australia not won the final, as it dominated the match with 17 shots at the goal as compared to five by Germany.

“Our finishing is not up to the standard as yet, but the team is improving. We will be much better”, warned Charlesworth, about the team shaping better for a tilt at the gold medal in the London Olympics.

A lot more enjoyable

Australia had won the World Cup earlier in 1986 when Charlesworth was a player. He said that it was a lot more enjoyable to do it as a player, and said that he firmly believed that the current team was good enough to win.

“In the end, it is the players who do it once the match starts”, said the genial coach, who had had a brief stint with the Indian team, before being driven back to Australia 14 months ago.

All praise for coach

Captain Dwyer was all praise for the coach and said that Charlesworth did not push the players hard, but only helped them realise their potential by giving them the confidence. ”He has done a great job”, he said.

The German coach Marcus Weise conceded that the better team won, and he was proud of his young team putting up such a good fight. ”My boys changed their attitude in the second half. I am proud of the way the team played not only the final, but the whole tournament. Australia was slightly better than us and deserved to win”, Weise said.