Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Australia coach Ric Charlesworth says his team has shown its potential and deserved to be in Saturday’s final of the Hockey World Cup.
“The semifinal is always a difficult game. But I am pleased the way my boys played against the Dutch. We not only played a solid game but also managed to control it. We had a lot of chances and also showed a lot of quality on the field,” said the Australian after his boys won 2-1 against the Netherlands in the semi-final at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here Thursday.

Australia will now take on Germany in the third successive World Cup final.

Asked whether past records would play in the mind of his boys, Charlesworth said: “This team has a completely different history as compared to the last two sides that lost in the World Cup. This team has a lot of potential and will create its own history. We hope we play well against Germany in the final.”

About the Germans, Charlesworth said: “Germany have a very compact game. They have showed high quality throughout the tournament.”

Charlesworth was also concerned about his team’s finishing.

“I am aware of the team’s finishing abilities. But it is a tough task as a lot is happening in the D. We expect that we can better it in the final,” he said.

The Netherlands coach Michel van den Huevel said they could have taken the match to the extra time.

“It was a spectacular game. We were able to resist the first 15 minutes of pressure from the Australians. We had a feeling that we could make it 2-2, but that didn’t happen. We completely dominated the last 15 minutes of the game and it is sad that we couldn’t take the match to extra time.”

Heuvel was extremely sorry for legendary players like skipper Teun de Nooijer and goalkeeper Guus Vogels, who were playing their last World Cup.

“For some guys it was their last World Cup, that’s why there were tears in Vogels’ eyes,” he said.