Malaysia 3rd Reserve for World Cup..

 

Argentina men qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup thanks to a fine display at the Hockey World League Semi Final event in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

(Photo: FIH / Frank Uijlenbroek)

by FIH

 

Following the completion of the Hockey World League Semi Finals events in Rotterdam, London and Johor Bahru, The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is pleased to bring you an update on the teams that have qualified for the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup. The joint men’s and women’s event takes place from 31^st May to 15^th June 2014 in The Hague, The Netherlands.    

A total of 14 teams are now confirmed for next year’s showpiece event, with many others significantly improving their chances of achieving qualification thanks to strong showings at the Hockey World League Semi Finals. More information can be found below.

Rabobank Hockey World Cup – Men’s Qualifiers 

Hosts

• The Netherlands

Top 3 – World League Semi-Finals

• Germany: 1st in Johor Bahru / World Ranking: 1
• Argentina: 2nd in Johor Bahru / World Ranking: 10
• England: 3rd in Johor Bahru / World Ranking: 4
•  Belgium: 1st in Rotterdam / World Ranking: 9
• Australia: 2nd in Rotterdam  / World Ranking: 2 
• New Zealand: 4th in Rotterdam* / World Ranking: 5 

* The Netherlands finished third in the Hockey World League Semi Final event in Rotterdam.  As they are already pre-qualified as the host, this means that the highest ranked fourth place finisher from both Semi Final events earns direct qualification to the Rabobank Hockey World Cup. This place goes to New Zealand, who were fourth in Rotterdam and currently sit fifth in the FIH World Rankings. 

World Cup Qualification - The Next Stage

The remaining places at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup for men will be filled by the winners of the five continental championships. However, if any of the above listed teams also becomes continental champion, this opens the door to the teams that finished outside the top three at the Hockey World League Semi Finals. These teams can be found below, in order of their placing in the Hockey World League Semi Finals.    

• Korea: 4^th in Johor Bahru / 1st reserve for World Cup
• Spain: 5^th in Rotterdam / 2nd reserve for World Cup
• Malaysia: 5^th in Johor Bahru / 3rd reserve for World Cup
• India: 6^th in Rotterdam / 4th reserve for World Cup

Stay but only if your heart is in it, Revington

Comment by Jugjet Singh

NATIONAL hockey coach Paul Revington is said to have packed his bags, and is ready to make an exit by next week.
    And if Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) officials fail to convince the South African to stay on until the Asia Cup in Ipoh on Aug 24-Sept 1, hockey will be in the limelight for another own goal.
   But in attempting to convince Revington to stay, MHC should also keep in mind that it would be pointless to keep the coach if he has no more heart to lead the Malaysian players.
    Revington did throw in the towel two weeks before the World League Semi-finals in Johor Baru, but after the intervention of no less than the sports minister himself, he decided to stay on and guided Malaysia to a fifth place finish.
   And the indications were there in the press conference after Malaysia beat Japan in the playoff, as Revington was in no mood to discuss about the Asia Cup.
   He bluntly said that he would not take any questions about the Asia Cup, which offers the champions direct entry into the World Cup next year.
   That was very un-Revington, as the South African is normally very accommodating to the press.
   Malaysia have lost a string of coaches before this, as Australian Terry Walsh, and Germans Volker Knapp and Paul Lissek came, trained, and left in a huff.
   They lost heart, and if this is the case with Revington, he should also pack his bags and leave.
   A good coach does make a big difference, as in the present state of hockey, all a team need is a slight edge in tactics to beat higher ranked teams.
   Rankings were torn apart in Johor Baru when World No 10 Argentina held World No 1 Germany 1-1 in Group A, only to lose by 4-2 with two German goals scored in the last three minutes of the final.
   However, World No 13 Malaysia were inconsistent, as fitness was not at the best and 60 per cent of the players, especially the strikers, were out of breath by the third match itself.
   The Asia Cup is just weeks away, and not much can be done on fitness in the fasting month. But for the long term benefit of the sport, Malaysian players must venture abroad by the droves and play in much more competitive leagues than the Malaysia Hockey League.
   The coach can only work with what he has, and at present Malaysia does not have much to offer other than a fighting side.
    And a fighting side needs a fighting coach, not one who abandons them when faced with outside problems. Revington must fight with his nemeses, if any, and not throw in the towel yet again.
    He is supposed to meet Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and after the meeting, if his heart is still with the players, he must forget about meddling outsiders and concentrate on the job at hand.
   But if his heart is elsewhere, bon voyage Revington...

Malaysia v Japan in pictures...

by Frank Uijlenbroek

England bronze..

England – Korea 2-1 (1-0)

A 59^th minute goal from Harry Martin gave Bobby Crutchley’s young England team a 2-1 victory over Korea in the 3-4 Placement match at the Hockey World League Semi Final event in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The victory confirmed England as third place finishers in the competition, denying Korea automatic qualification for the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague.

The result was good news for New Zealand, who are confirmed qualifiers for the World Cup by virtue of being the highest ranked of the two fourth place finishers from Rotterdam and Johor. The Black Sticks are ranked 6^th in the world, ahead of Korea who are 8^th.  However, Korea's high finish in the tournament means that they still have an excellent chance of qualifying for the event should they fail to do so at their continental championship.

Despite missing key players Ashley Jackson and Mark Gleghorne for this match through injury, England gave a good showing of themselves in the first half and took the lead in the 12^th minute. Ben Arnold was the scorer, driving from left to right across the circle before firing accurately into the bottom left corner of Lee Myung Ho’s goal.  Korea’s chances in the first half were limited, but looked extremely threatening in the early stages of the second period.  

Korea came agonisingly close to levelling the scores in the 48^th minute when Jeon Byung burst into the circle and tipped the ball past England goalkeeper George Pinner, only for Lee Nam Yong’s diving backhand effort to travel just wide of the unguarded net.

Moments later, Nam Hyun Woo brought another fine save from Pinner, before Korea eventually grabbed an equaliser in the 51^st minute. England charged down the initial penalty corner flick, but a second effort towards goal was deflected in by Kim Seong Kyu.

The goal seemed to be something of a wake-up call for England, who once again began to take the game to Korea and scored what proved to be the winning goal eleven minutes from full time. A penalty corner variation came the way of Nick Catlin, who placed a perfect pass onto the stick of Harry Martin who could not miss from close range.

Korea had a superb chance to equalise in the final minutes of the game when they won a penalty corner, but England shot-stopper Pinner produced a fine diving save to deny the flicked effort from the top of the circle. 

German gold..

Germany are the winners of the Hockey World League Semi Final tournament in Johor Bahru after defeating Argentina 4-2 in a pulsating tournament final. Florian Fuchs scored twice to help the world number 1 side to victory, although they were given a huge test by an Argentinean team that looks capable of rapidly rising up the FIH World Rankings over the next few years.

The match brought to an end a fantastic week of top class hockey in Malaysia, which saw three teams – Germany, Argentina and England – seal their places at the 2014 Rabobank Hockey world Cup. There were also individual prizes handed out to the players who excelled during this tournament, with Germany captain Max Mueller winning the Player of the Tournament while 20 year old Argentina defender Gonzalo Peillat picked up the gong for Talent of the Tournament (U-21). The Goalkeeper of the Tournament award was given to Korea’s Lee Myung Ho, while three players – Abdul Haseem Khan (PAK), Gonzalo Peillat (ARG) and Christopher Zeller (GER) – shared the top scorer awarded with seven goals apiece.

Argentina gave as good as they got in a fiercely contested and hugely entertaining first half, twice coming from behind against the Olympic champions to go into the half time break with the scores on par. Christopher Zeller opened the scoring in the 22^nd minute after brilliant build-up play from Moritz Fuerste, but Argentina’s 20 year old penalty corner expert Gonzalo Peillat rattled in a stunning leveller just four minutes later. Florian Fuchs volleyed Germany back in front in the 32^nd minute only for Matias Paredes to tie the scores up on the stroke of half time.

The South Americans were arguably the better team in the early stages of the second period, but Germany grew in strength as the half progressed and netted a stunning 67^th minute goal when Florian Fuchs touched home a brilliant pass from Christopher Ruehr. The win was sealed by Christopher Wesley in the final minute, who blasted a powerful backhand shot into the roof of the net via the glove of Argentina keeper Juan Vivaldi.  

Final Standings

Gold: Germany (Qualified for 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup)
Silver: Argentina (Qualified for 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup)
Bronze: England (Qualified for 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup)
4: Korea
5: Malaysia
6: Japan
7: Pakistan
8: South Africa

Awards
Top Scorers: 7 goals - Abdul Haseem Khan (PAK), Gonzalo Peillat (ARG) & Christopher Zeller ( GER)
Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Lee Myung Ho (KOR)
Talent of the Tournament (U-21): Gonzalo Peillat (ARG)
Player of the Tournament: Maximilian Mueller (GER)