Hockey men in the semifinals: after a heat test, crazy medal series beckons


Hockey men in the semifinals
After a heat test, a crazy medal series beckons

The hockey teams are a benchmark when it comes to international honors for Germany. The men in Tokyo also do justice to this role. You confidently reach the semifinals. The fifth Olympic medal in a row is thus very close.

The German hockey men passed the heat test against Olympic champion Argentina at the Tokyo Summer Games and confidently reached the semifinals. The team of national coach Kais al Saadi prevailed at the start of the knockout round at more than 30 degrees in the Oi Hockey Stadium with 3: 1 (1: 0) against Olympic champion Argentina. The German goals were scored by Lukas Windfeder (19th minute / 48th minute) and Timm Herzbruch (40th) each by penalty corner.

“It was an incredibly intense game. We were aware that we had to concentrate on defense,” said double goalscorer Windfeder. “That gives us confidence for the rest of the tournament.” Coach al Saadi was also very satisfied with the clarified appearance of his team: “We would have liked to have shown more spectacle, but such a stable win is always a little more valuable for a coach because it showed how well we played.”

With the success, the selection of the German Hockey Association successfully took revenge for the defeat in the semi-finals in Rio five years ago and has the chance of the fifth Olympic medal in a row. In the round of the best four, it will be played on Tuesday against the top favorites Australia, who have so far been unbeaten in Tokyo, and who prevailed 3-0 in the shoot-out against European champions Netherlands. “It’s a very athletic, very powerful, very fast team,” said al Saadi, analyzing the next opponent. “They are extremely dangerous and are tough to play on.”

German team is efficient

In the case of high humidity, both Germany and Argentina initially acted cautiously, in the first section there were no noteworthy goal scenes. The Mülheimer Windfeder used the first opportunity to score his fourth goal in the tournament and gave the 42-year-old Argentine goalkeeper Juan Manuel Vivaldi no chance.

So far, the German team had alternately shown medal-ready and weaker appearances at the tournament in Tokyo. Now the DHB selection appeared concentrated after the 3: 1 at the end of the preliminary round against the Netherlands, survived five minutes in a minority without any problems.

The players tried to cool down in the drizzle of the fans, and the pitch was intensely watered at half-time. The aging team of Rio Olympic champions Argentina was clearly showing the wear and tear of strength. Heartbreak increased on submission from captain Tobias Hauke. Shortly before the end of the third quarter, Constantin Staib hit the post with his backhand.

The German team also remained efficient in the final section: Windfeder used the next penalty corner. Goalkeeper Alexander Stadler had to admit defeat in the penalty corner hit by Maico Casella Schuth (52nd), but the deserved victory was no longer in greater danger.

The German hockey women will also face Argentina in their quarter-finals on Monday (2.30 a.m. CEST).

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