From The Times
March 12, 2010

England's hope of glory cut to ribbons by Germany in World Cup semi-final

England 1 Germany 4

Cathy Harris, Delhi

England’s hopes of emulating the heroes of 1986 were crushed on Thursday by a rampant Germany team, who cruised into the World Cup final with a commanding victory in Delhi.

The beaten semi-finalists will meet the Netherlands in a play-off for the bronze medal on Saturday, with Germany, the Olympic champions, on course to complete a hat-trick of World Cup titles. They will meet Australia, 2-1 victors over the Dutch, in a repeat of the previous two finals.

After a slow start to the tournament, Germany avenged their defeat in last summer’s European Championship final in style. They exuded the ruthless efficiency and menace that has helped them to qualify for 11 successive World Cup semi-finals against the inexperienced and injury-hit English.

If losing two strikers, Matt Daly and Simon Mantell, before the event was a blow to England, the horrific injury to Richard Mantell, their best defender and penalty-corner specialist, in their third match — against Pakistan — was a setback too far.

England deserved more for their enterprise and endeavour, but encountered opponents who displayed all the hallmarks of champions in a performance of the highest quality. Resolute in defence and clinical up front, they were dominant in every phase. Handed two goals in the first 11 minutes by errors at the back, they buried their chances, leaving England chasing the game with their ambitions of reaching the final — like their illustrious predecesssors in 1986 — in tatters.

Jason Lee, the England head coach, said: “It was a terribly disappointing result and the two early goals were the killer, making it tough to come back. [Richard] Mantell’s injury made a significant difference at the back and we were often chasing shadows.”

Jan-Marco Montag powered home a sixth-minute penalty corner and, five minutes later, Oliver Korn stole in to put Germany 2-0 up. England fought back and Richard Smith reduced the deficit from their only penalty corner of the contest.

Four minutes before the interval, they conceded a third goal when Martin Haner, who spent last season at East Grinstead, drilled in a shot from the set-piece.

England’s inability to capitalise on their possession in the attacking half will haunt them for a long time. Content to absorb pressure, Germany finally broke to score a fourth goal when Linus Butt drove home the rebound from their sixth penalty corner.

“They’re not the world’s No 1-ranked side for nothing and it would have been a huge step for us to reach the final,” Lee said. “I’m very proud of the squad and what they’ve achieved, and there’s no doubt how much they have all learnt.”