Pakistan lose, but in final

Pakistan lost their last pool match 3-2 to Poland, but their four wins took them into the final of the World Cup Qualifier in Lille, France. Who will play them for the gold medal? Poland, Japan and France are in the running now.

P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Pakistan	5	4	0	1	22	6	12
Poland	5	3	1	1	13	9	10
Japan	4	3	0	1	11	8	9
France	4	2	1	1	11	9	7
Russia	4	0	0	4	4	15	0
Italy	4	0	0	4	1	15	0

Malaysia squander 2-goal lead

MALAYSIA squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Austria in the first day of the World Cup Qualifiers in Invercargill, New Zealand.
It was a dream start, but lasted only eight minutes, and Tai Beng Hai’s men now have an uphill task in the Qualifiers after allowing 20th ranked Austria to make a late come-back.
Amin Rahim scored off a penalty corner in the sixth minute, and Azlan Misron made it 2-0 two minutes later and it looked like the Austrians were heading for a hiding.
But the goals dried up, and in the second half, Manuel Grandits scored a field goal, and three minutes from time, Michael Korper made it count off a penalty corner.
China also had a shaky start to the tournament as they were down 0-1 top Scotland, but a strong second half rally saved the day.
Scotland scored in the fourth minute off Stephen Dick and the Chinese had to wait until the 45th minute before Lu Yixian found the equaliser. Na Yubo delivered the three points in the 60th minute, and China live to fight on.
Hosts New Zealand has a super outing when they hammered Wales 6-2 with goals from Nicholas Wilson (17th, 60th), Andrew Hayward (33rd, 35th, 65th), Phillip Burrows (63rd).
The Welsh brace was scored by Richard Gay in the 37th and 49th minutes.
Malaysia play Wales

RESULTS: China 2 Scotland 1, New zealand 6 Wales 2, Malaysia 2 Austria 2.
TODAY: Scotland v New Zealand, Wales v Malaysia, Austria v China.


STANDINGS

P W D L F A PTS
New Zealand 1 1 0 0 6 2 3
China 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
Malaysia 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Austria 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Scotland 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
Wales 1 0 0 1 2 6 0

Malaysia can only bank on pedigree

MALAYSIA have a poor record in qualifiers, and the script is highly unlikely to change when they start their campaign against Austria in the World Cup Qualifier in Invercargill, New Zealand, today.

The world ranking also tells a story of its own, as 16th ranked Malaysia will be up against New Zealand (8), China (13), Austria (20), Scotland (24) and Wales (29) for the single ticket to the World Cup next year.
The only hope is pedigree, as among the six hopefuls, only Malaysia and New Zealand have played in World Cups while the rest will be looking to break the duck.
Malaysia have played in five World Cups, and the best finish was fourth in 1975. The Kiwis have played seven times, and their best finish was seventh in 1982, 1975, 1973 and 1971.
Coach Tai Beng Hai has taken a gamble, discarding several tried-and-tested players for three Junior World Cup rookies.
And the best bet among the three is 18-year-old Faizal Shaari, who scored eight goals in the Junior World Cup.

Faizal Shaari is touted as the most talented among three Junior World Cup players who have been picked for the squad.

"Faizal has talent and showed progress in the Champions Challenge II and the Australia and New Zealand friendlies. And I believe, for his age, he is matured enough not to freeze in the Qualifier," said Beng Hai.
Malaysia's defence is porous as Madzli Ikmar, Amin Rahim, C. Baljit Singh and Ahmad Kazamirul did not display proper understanding in the Five-Test series against Australia.
But Beng Hai also tested Jiwa Mohan in defence, and it did stabilise matters, and the experienced player could make a big difference if he is given more time at the back
Between the posts, Beng Hai can rely on S. Kumar, who is among the best goalkeepers in the world.
But there is not a single player who can marshal the midfield with confidence, and this is where Malaysia are going to face a tough time taking the ball out of defence, and delivering it to the strikers.
"The first target is to qualify for the final, and I am confident my men are game for it. After that, only 70 minutes separate us from the World Cup, and I am sure the team will give their best," said Beng Hai.
TODAY -- China v Scotland, New Zealand v Wales, Malaysia v Austria.

Green Card to Goalkeeper Can Kill

KICKING-BACK or lamb in the New Zealand slaughter house?

The Malaysian Hockey federation (MHF) requested for clarification form the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on the new green card ruling which is being used in the France Qualifier right now, and will be used in New Zealand from Saturday.
Players get two minutes, fair enough, but the ruling on goalkeeper can kill a match, or an outfield player.
The FIH confirmed that a green card to the goalkeeper will see him sitting out for two minutes, and a kicking back nominated, but no substitution allowed.

And here is the icing: No time will be given to the kicking-fullback to don protective gear!

The FIH have have turned hockey into a dangerous game, and will the FIH be responsible in the event the kicking back, who is not given time to wear protective gear, gets hurt badly in the head while trying to stop the ball?
Is there insurance? What if a player dies while doing the duty of kicking back?
Fools make laws which are endorsed by bigger fools, and only idiots will not protest, but follow like lamb in the slaughter house.
Time for the Asian Hockey Federation, right up to the Chile Hockey Federation to send a protest note to the FIH, or forever remain silent and don't make a fuss if a player dies on the pitch for another's Green Card mistake.

By BRENDON EGAN

Star Black Sticks striker Simon Child does not want to think about the possibility of New Zealand not featuring at next year's men's Hockey World Cup.
The Black Sticks have a proud record of having qualified for seven of the 11 World Cup tournaments since 1971. If they want to progress to an eighth, though, they will have to win the World Cup qualifier tournament, which begins on Saturday in Invercargill.
Child said missing out on next year's World Cup would be a disaster for the national side.
"If we fail to qualify, we may fall off the hockey map. It's crucial that we qualify."
Eighth-ranked New Zealand will start the tournament as firm favourites and Child said there was a positive mood in the camp, three days out from their opening match against Wales on Saturday.
"We're very confident. We're obviously the highest-ranked team. We've had a pretty good preparation and been in camp for a while ... Everyone is confident and raring to go."
China, who are ranked 13th in the world, and Malaysia (16th) shape as the Black Sticks' toughest rivals at the qualifying tournament, but Child noted that three European sides – Austria, Wales and Scotland – would have to be treated with the respect they deserved.
"We have to be wary in all the games," Child said.
"It's a cut-throat tournament and if you slip up, your chances are gone just like that."
Child was especially looking forward to the match against China, after the Chinese effectively knocked the Black Sticks out of last year's Beijing Olympics by holding them to a surprise draw in group play.
"That was a disappointing game for us ...This will be our revenge, I think," Child said.
New Zealand have named their strongest possible side for the winner-takes-all tournament, with all their European-based players back in the country.
Dunedin-raised teenager Hugo Inglis is the only uncapped player in the squad and Child, who teamed up with the youngster for New Zealand at the Junior World Cup, earlier this year, rated him highly.
"He's a very talented guy. He's got some fantastic skills and has a good eye in front of goal. He's going to be an exciting player for the Black Sticks in the future."
Child has racked up 106 caps for New Zealand since his debut in 2005 as a 16-year-old schoolboy and despite his tender age is now regarded as one of the more experienced members in the side.
He said he was eager to have a strong tournament and will be looking to carry over the red-hot goalscoring form he has shown for the New Zealand Juniors and his NHL team Auckland this year.