Aussies are Great Losers

[seelenjaeger]

Tonight, Germany took the WCH title in hockey after winning one of the most exciting games ever I saw in hockey. Now this is what the Australian Hockey Federation had to say about the game - CLASS ACT.

I really wish sports would be like that all the time:

So close for Kookaburras
18/9/06
by Hockey Australia.


Australia 3 Germany 4
Australia - Mark Knowles 20m PC, Matt Naylor 25m PC, Troy Elder 38m FG; Germany - Christopher Zeller 18m/55m FG, Moritz Fuerste 46m FG, Bjoern Emmerling 49m FG.


The Kookaburras came agonizingly close to winning the World Cup in Germany overnight, losing 3-4 in an amazing final.


It took an incredible performance to defeat the Olympic Champion, Germany coming back from a 1-3 deficit to score three goals in nine minutes and steal the game away from the Kookaburras.


Things began badly for the Australia with Jamie Dwyer unable to come up from the thigh injury he sustained late in the game against Korea. In such strong form, one of the players of the tournament was always going to be tough to cover, the Kookaburras missing his creativity in front of goal.


In front of 20,000 fans, the match began nervously for both sides, the first fifteen minutes a back and forth struggle as the two teams tried to gain the ascendancy.


The 18th minute saw Germany draw first blood, the crowd erupting when Christopher Zeller dribbled his way through the midfield, his strike on goal deflecting off an Australian foot, wrongfooting Stephen Mowlam, who earlier had thwarted another German attack.


With the crowd right behind the home side, the Kookaburras hit back a minute later when they drew a penalty corner. Mark Knowles, who continues to make his mark in international hockey, scored the equalizer when his strike found the back of the net.


Building some momentum, the Kookaburras stepped up their attack on the Germans, Michael McCann whipping a frenzy in the circle, drawing two penalty corners in thirty seconds. With neither Elder or Doerner on the field, Australia's depth and versatility again shone through when Matt Naylor took the drag flick and sent it left of the keeper, just inside the post, but Bubolz had no chance, as Australia took a 2-1 lead.


It was brilliant hockey and it continued for the rest of the half, the huge crowd in attendance treated to a real spectacle as the two best teams of the tournament gave it everything, attacks on goals, long runs, and super saves aplenty.


Shortly after half time Germany attacked but a stong Mowlam save prevented the equaliser and the Kookaburras countered, Troy Elder scoring after taking the ball down the left side and drawing the German keeper, and tapping into the net in the 38th minute.


Stephen Mowlam was again in the action shortly after, saving a great reverse stick from Carlos Nevado. As had been the case all tournament, the Kookaburras were right on top in defence, continually stopping the German attacks, and rebounding with speed.


With the defence in such good form it was going to take a piece of brilliance to get one past them, in the 46th minute, Germany did this when Moritz Fuerst's full length dive and deflection, from a midfield long range pass, found the back of the net. It was the spark they needed, and was generated from Christopher Zeller who was in everything.


Three minutes later they did it again, this time Bjoern Emmerling's brilliant reverse stick flying past Mowlam with very little he could do about it.


With the noise in the stadium deafening, and the momentum with Germany, the Kookaburras were soon on the back foot and struggling against the German onslaught. In the 55th minute Christopher Zeller made it 4-3 when he took the ball into the circle and struck another one past Mowlam.


With time running out, the Kookaburras struggled to gain possession and get their ball into their attacking half. With four minutes left on the clock though they drew a penalty corner, Luke Doerner having the opportunity to equalise but his drag flick hit the left post, coming so close to equalising.


With Germany holding up possession Australia were unable to create more opportunities, the home side playing out the clock for an amazing come-from-behind win.


For the second World Cup in a row, the Kookaburras had to settle for second place to Germany. While painful now, they can be proud of their performance in one of the greatest finals in a World Cup, against a German side that was lifted to another level with 20,000 screaming fans urging them on.

[capitalcity]

Back to the gum trees losers.

(cue kookaburra song)