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Hockey: Barcelona to Beijing, a long wait over for Germany

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-24 09:46

German players celebrate after winning the hockey gold yesterday. AFP

Power-packed Germany won the men's hockey gold medal after 16 years with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Spain in the final yesterday.

Christopher Zeller netted the winner in the 16th minute with a ferocious penalty corner. The Germans spent most of the rest of the match thwarting repeated Spanish attacks.

This was hockey's 100th year at the Olympics.

Germany added the Olympic title to its World Cup triumph two years ago, reinforcing its credentials as the sport's foremost nation despite losing the No 1 ranking to Australia in June.

Germany had won bronze in Athens four years ago; its victim then too was Spain.

Said German captain Timo Wess: "We played our best hockey today and this has to be our biggest success ever.

"I am so proud of the team. The great team spirit we have is what carried us through.is."

It was two-in-a-row for coach Markus Weise, who had led the German women's team to its maiden Olympic title in Athens.

Spain lived up to its billing as the best team never to have won the Olympic gold. It faltered for the third time, after losing finals to India in 1980 and the Netherlands in 1996.

The Spanish strikers, led by the seasoned Santi Freixa, raided the rivals' half through 70 minutes of gripping hockey, but could not get past the sturdy German defence.

Freixa, who had scored five goals in the competition, failed to convert three penalty corners as Germany built on the 1-0 win over Spain in the preliminary league.

"I am sad because we made the same mistakes again," said Freixa. "When they are leading, all they do is defend. We tried everything to get a goal but just could not beat their defence."

Bronze for Australia

Defending champion Australia won the bronze medal with a spectacular 6-2 win over the Netherlands.

Stung from the semifinal loss to Spain, Australia took its frustration out on the Dutch by scoring three goals in the first nine minutes.

The win bettered Australia's 6-3 triumph over Pakistan in the play-off for the bronze at home in Sydney in 2000.

"It took some time coming to grips with the semifinal defeat," said Australia's outgoing coach Barry Dancer. "This is a team which is well-placed going into 2010 and beyond."

The Netherlands failed to win a medal for the first time in four successive Olympics, having won the title in 1996 and 2000 and a silver in Athens four years ago.

The loss meant the veteran Dutch trio of Teun de Nooijer, goalkeeper Guus Vogels and captain Jeroen Delmee return home empty-handed from their fourth and final Olympic appearance.

Agenceis

(China Daily 08/24/2008 page8)