BIG-TICKET TIE: GERMANS V DUTCH

BHUBANESWAR: Wednesday’s game between the Netherlands and Germany promises to be the match to watch out for in this World Cup yet. Both former winners, the Pool D contest will undoubtedly be the clash of titans of the pool stages. Both the Dutch and Germans entered the finals of the last two World Cups, eventually losing to Australia and would like to make amends at the Kalinga Stadium here. The world No 4 Netherlands announced their intentions in grand fashion, hammering Malaysia 7-0 with striker Jeroen Hertzberger scoring the lone hat-trick of this World Cup.

Malaysia are no pushovers but the Max Caldas-coached outfit just brushed aside the Asians as if they were a team ranked 20 rungs below them. The world No 6 Germans, on the other hand, have a history of coming together as a team and peaking later in tournaments. They may not have started with a bang, but their 1-0 win over Pakistan was what they needed — three points in the kitty.

Such has been their record that Germany have never finished outside the top-four in World Cups from 1973 Amstelveen to 2014 New Delhi. The only time Germany did not finish in the top-4 was first edition of the tournament (1971 Barcelona) and the last one (2014 The Hague). But the Martin Haner-led outfit is looking to make amends come Wednesday.

DAVID JOHN MISSING

BHUBANESWAR : Hockey India’s high performance director David John is missing from the team’s setup and is nowhere to be seen despite the sport’s most important tournament being held here. A top HI official, who did not wish to be named, confirmed that John is not in Bhubaneswar. Despite his contract running till the 2020 Olympics, word is that his contract might be terminated at the end of the World Cup. “There will be changes made but not now, only after the World Cup. As per my knowledge, John will not continue,” said the official. John was removed from the selection panel in October for criticising some Indian players.