German wall in Johor Baru..

WORLD No 1 Germany will be the least of Malaysia’s headache when Johor Baru hosts the Hockey World League Semi-Final on June 29-July 7.
    For, the International Hockey Federation confirmed that joining Malaysia, at No 13, to qualify for the 2014 World Cup will be World No 4 England, No 5 Pakistan and No 7 South Korea. Three more teams will join the Johor Baru scramble for seats after the Round Two tournament.
    Malaysia had been scheduled to play in the Round Two tournament in Elektrostal, Russia, at the end of May but after Germany could not host the semi-finals, Malaysia took over the task and were thrown face first into the lions den.
      “I would especially like to thank Malaysia for stepping into host on short notice. It is further evidence of the spirit of cooperation that we enjoy in international hockey,” said FIH President Leandro Negre.
     The World Cup will be held at The Hague, Holland on June 2-15. The cast will be made up of the hosts, Five Continental champions and six  teams from the two World League Semi-finals.
    The other World League Semi-finals would be held in the Netherlands on June 13-23 in Rotterdam and the confirmed teams are Australia, the Netherlands, Spain and New Zealand.
    Eight teams will play in each of the semi-finals, and if Malaysia fail to be among the top three teams in Johor Baru, there is another chance in the Asia Cup to be hosted by Ipoh.