Rio Olympics (hockey): Tough task for India against defending champions Germany

Rio de Janeiro: Having huffed and puffed against Ireland in their opener, India will have to raise the level of their performance as they take on the two-time defending Olympic champions Germany in their second Pool B encounter at the Deodoro hockey pitch here on Sunday. Both teams won their opening matches albeit in contrasting displays. Germany outclassed Canada 6-2 while the Indians made heavy weather of their outing against debutants Ireland scraping to a 3-2 victory. Speaking on his team’s wobbly performance, Indian coach Roelant Oltmans, who earlier exuded confidently that gray areas had been addressed, chose to cover up stating that this was their first match. India has their task cut out against their next opponents Germany, who are ranked third in the world and bagged the gold medals at the previous two Olympics – in Beijing and London. Germany was held by India 3-3 at the Champions Trophy in London after the latter were firmly on the saddle with a two goal cushion in the final quarter. Coach Valentin Altenburg made eight changes from that squad and routed India 4-0 at the Six Nation Tournament at Valencia, Spain thereafter. But this is Germany and when things go wrong, the first instinct is to seek a better way of doing things, after all, they are reigning Olympic champions and would not relinquish that crown easily. This is why veteran campaigner Moritz Fuerste now finds himself at the heart of centre defence alongside Martin Haner – the first time he is playing in this role. Fuerste is also the captain, chosen by the squad rather than the coach, which is another break from the past. Germany’s hockey squad for Rio contains seven Olympic gold medalists from London, Furste, Martin Haner, Oliver Korn, Florian Fuchs, Oscar Deecke and Christopher Wesley. The calibrated and clinical Germans have more firepower with the inclusion of 2013 FIH young player of the year Christopher Ruhr, now a recognised world-class striker, along with a new star emerging in the shape of Moritz Trompertz, a player who has been impressive ever since playing a pivotal role in Germany’s gold medal winning Hockey Junior World Cup team. The Indian midfield that pivots around veteran Sardar Singh and Manpreet Singh, will need several degrees of elevation as will their defensive structure. Swifter ball rotation, maximum possession, player marking and speedy turnovers could unnerve the Germans particularly sorties in the wings by SV Sunil and Nikin Thiimmaiah. The poachers Akashdeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh will need to be razor sharp in the striking circle as the German defence usually does not commit to unforced errors. The Indian dragflickers Rupinder Pal and Raghunath, who accounted for the three goals against Ireland, should also be entering the turf with confidence to beat Nicolas Jacobi under the German citadel.