Bring back that old '75 magic

24/02/2002

IF it wasn't in the air before, from today Malaysians will be gripped in
World Cup hockey fever that could reach even dizzying levels, if the 18
Malaysians entrusted with the task of bringing honour to the nation, can
rise to the challenge.
Many may not even be tempted to believe that this squad can win the
coveted trophy. But winning is not just about skills, ability, or
technique. It's also about desire, about belief in oneself, and the rush
of adrenalin through every vein in your body.
So what if the Germans are the raging favourites, or that Pakistan have
won it thrice, and Holland twice since 1978. That's history. Like they
say, you are only as good as your last win.
The script is not written on past records. It's written by those special
beings who dare to dream, who believe they can win, and do just that.
Malaysia, have a nation behind them. Now they only need to make that
nation proud. And they can start with beating 1986 champions Australia in
their opening match tonight.
The mission of the 2002 squad to bury the ghosts of the 1975 team that
brought honour and glory to the nation with Malaysia's best finishing -
fourth in the world - begins with Australia.
Back to the favourites, Germany. They have not won the World Cup yet.
But that has made little or no difference to them. They are to win it for
their nation.
And being drawn together in the "Group of Death" with four-time
champions Pakistan, and two-time winners Holland, has done nothing to
shake their confidence or their desire.
Germany have reached the semifinals for a record eight times in nine
World Cups but the closest they came to winning it was in 1982 in Bombay
where they were beaten by Pakistan in the final.
The two-time Olympics gold medallists have the most impressive track
record among the other top teams in the world last year.
They played 36 international matches after the Sydney 2000 Olympics and
won 34 of them. They have only lost two Test matches against Holland (1-0)
in Berlin and India (2-1) in Hyderabad.
Last year, Germany also won three titles in the Four-Nation Panasonic
Cup in Hamburg, the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur and the
Champions Trophy in Rotterdam.
But the last time Germany entered the field with the favourites tag
firmly pinned on them in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, they finished fifth.
But that was before a thorough re-engineering was done by Bernhard Peters.
And don't forget that the World Cup has been kept in Asia more times
than it has been in Europe - with Pakistan and India holding a 60 per cent
record between them.
Of the nine World Cups, only London in 1986 and Utrecth in 1998
witnessed a final without an Asian team. Pakistan were in six finals and
won four, while India were in two (against Pakistan in 1975 and against
the Dutch in 1973).
South Korea are the third emerging form and with five Asian teams in the
World Cup this time, there is a strong possibility of an Asian country
maintaining their good record of making the final.
The stage has been set and the favourites picked, but what Malaysia's
German coach Lissek said after the Germans finished fifth in the Sydney
Olympics must be taken into account.
"Hockey will never be the same again, the line separating the favourites
and dark horses has become blurred," lamented Lissek in Sydney.
And that prophesy could well become a reality in this 10th Edition of
the World Cup.
With such lines blurred, Malaysia's vision must be clear.
They must be able to see well beyond their frailities and self-doubts,
and rise to the clarion call by all Malaysians who have been starved of
honour and glory these past 27 years.
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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