Hockey World League Final: India Finish Pool Stage Without a Win

India lost 0-2 to Germany in their final Pool B game of the Hockey World League on 4 December to finish the league stage without a win.

With one draw and two losses, India ended the pool stage of the tournament with one point. However, the host’s campaign has not ended as yet, as the pool matches are there only to decide who plays whom in the quarter-finals.

Rio Olympic bronze medallist Germany dominated the proceedings from word go while the Indians were defending for the first ten minutes of the game. However, neither team managed to net a goal in the first quarter.

Just two minutes into the second quarter,



Germany won their first penalty corner of the match which was successfully converted by captain Martin Haner. In the very next minute, India missed a chance to equalise after SV Sunil failed to trap Akashdeep Singh’s pass right in front of goal.

In the 20th minute, Mats Grambusch’s hit deflected off Birendra Lakra’s stick to hand Germany a 2-0 lead.

Mandeep Singh made a good counter in the 20th minute, however his shot was saved by the German goalkeeper. Two minutes before half-time, India won their first penalty corner of the match. Rupinder Pal Singh’s shot at goal was saved by German shot-stopper Walter Tobias.