Germany head coach Andre Henning mentioned Saturday that his group should make daring strikes and play dangerous hockey to cease Belgium’s woes in Sunday’s World Cup closing.
After successful silver on the 2016 Rio Olympics, Belgium gained the 2018 world title right here on the identical venue after which gold on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“We performed in opposition to them within the Pro League in Argentina, one win and one loss. Played them right here and it was a draw. Looks very near eye degree. I’ve the best respect for what Belgium has achieved through the years. They are clearly one of the best group on the earth in the mean time,” Henning mentioned on the pre-final press convention.
“So, it is going to be a troublesome match, we have now to problem them. All their gamers are world class however we are going to concentrate on our strengths and qualities.” Henning feels Belgium has no weaknesses.
“It doesn’t look like they are weak, vulnerable or disadvantaged at the moment. They are still very strong. But we want to challenge them for how long (under pressure) they go on. We would like to stop it in the most dignified way possible.”
We must be courageous, aggressive and play dangerous hockey. We must deliver out all our strengths on the pitch. Only then will we be capable of problem a group like Belgium.” Henning mentioned his group would look to repeat their robust semi-final efficiency in opposition to Australia, whom they beat 4-3, on Sunday to problem the defending champions.
“Against England (within the quarter-finals) we did not play our greatest hockey for 55 minutes nevertheless it was principally due to England, they defended very nicely and so they had an incredible match. Luckily we performed our greatest hockey within the final 5 minutes.
“The match in opposition to Australia was a bit completely different, as a result of we performed very nicely and powerful. It was a well-deserved win. We defended nicely, acquired loads of possibilities. Our intention will probably be to do the identical tomorrow. We could have our possibilities.
“Our excessive press in opposition to Australia was actually good. We must be good within the first line and our forwards are doing loads of work, the working meters are superb in opposition to Australia. Running is one of the best since we have now GPS working knowledge. One of the nice video games, Germany got here again twice from two targets down within the match to win in opposition to England and Australia however Henning mentioned it was not a great state of affairs.
“I would prefer not to score a goal two minutes before the end of the match. So, there is something to improve on,” mentioned the coach.
“We have completed very nicely in protection in our space, it is vitally robust and we have now improved on that. It is one thing we need to do, to be like the standard German match group and take it recreation by recreation. On whether or not his group will need to have the ball in opposition to Belgium on Sunday, Henning mentioned protection and counter-attack would be the fundamental focus.
“Hockey is now about defence, counter-attacking and the sport is getting quicker and quicker. We have very fast gamers, our counter assault could be very robust.
“Germany is or was historically a group that likes to own the ball and we is not going to change this tradition 100 per cent. It must be an excellent combine. So we wish possession and an excellent construct up however this yr we have now loads of concentrate on defending and counter attacking. Belgium head coach Michel van den Heuvel mentioned his group must guard in opposition to Germany’s robust ending capability.
He mentioned, ‘We have been enjoying in opposition to them many occasions in the previous few months and so they have progressed recreation by recreation. As a pure character, Germany is able to ending nicely. We had a saying previously that we all the time win in opposition to the Germans when they’re on the bus.
“We even have a robust group that may deal with the stress. It will probably be an fascinating encounter between two nice groups and nice people. This can be an excellent commercial for hockey. Belgium captain Felix Denayer mentioned the group’s success is all the way down to the trouble of the group, the assist workers and being with the group for a very long time.
“This group has been collectively for a very long time, earlier than 2016 (even earlier than successful silver on the Rio Olympics). Our finest gamers are the group and that’s our energy.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
