GB men lose 2-1 to Germany

Great Britain 1 (0)

Furlong (49’, PC)

Germany 2 (2)

Rühr (19’, FG; 25’, PS)

In their final pool B game, Great Britain took on World Champions Germany to see who could get maximum points and top the table going into the quarter finals.  Germany took a two goal lead in the second quarter with both goals from Christopher Rühr, before GB pulled a goal back in the fourth quarter from Furlong and then had another goal disallowed by Morton late on to leave the score 2-1. GB finish third in the pool and will now play India in the quarter finals.

The opening quarter of the game started with both teams trying to open up each other, moving the ball but not generating any significant chances.  Germany pressed high and were looking for an opportunity to counter attack, whilst Great Britain employed aerials to get past the press.

For the first of what proved to be two disallowed goals in the game for GB, a good steal led to James Albery running in space to the right of the circle and putting the ball across goal.  The ball reached Will Calnan and it was deflected under the German keeper but was judged to have hit Calnan’s foot. In the final few minutes both teams had chances, first Zach Wallace picked up the ball, turned and ran in flicking it toward goal but it was saved by the keeper with his glove. Immediately Germany broke and Olly Payne had to save from a reverse stick shot on the penalty spot.  

In a devastating second quarter, the Germans capitalised on two chances and were clinical in scoring two goals. As they had been threatening to do, a German interception saw the ball being run down the right and fired into the top of the circle to Rühr.  He turned onto his reverse away from GB’s Sanford and unleashed a powerful strike past Payne inside his right post. 1-0 to Germany.   The second, followed on 25 minutes, after a foul by GB led to a penalty corner. The ball was slipped at the top of the circle and the drag flick hit Tom Sorsby defending the goal, in the body. It was a penalty stroke to Germany which Christoper Rühr cooly placed inside the right post to make it 2-0 to Germany.

With the lead Germany looked to retain the ball for long periods in the third quarter, dictating the pace of the game.  GB did create some chances, through Wallace with a reverse stick shot from open play and then a succession of penalty corners, but Ward’s drag flicks couldn’t find a way through the on-running German defence.

In what proved to be a pulsating final 15 minutes, Great Britain found a foothold back into the game with goal from a penalty corner. Gareth Furlong got his third of the tournament with another powerful drag flick beating the German goalkeeper low to his right. 

On fifty minutes GB thought they had the equaliser from Lee Morton from another rpenalty corner. The slip from Ward at the top of the circle broke to Morton who drove to the right of goal and pushed low past the keeper.  But on referral the initial injection had not gone outside the circle before being stopped.  

In the final minute with Payne off and 11 outfield players GB forced a penalty corner.  Furlong’s first attempt was saved by the German keeper Danneberg’s stick and then agonisingly the second drag flick from Furlong went high and hit the left hand post.  To leave the final score 2-1 to Germany.

GB men’s quarter final is on Sunday against India at 9 am UK time.

Feeling inspired by the hockey in Paris? Get involved and pick up a stick this summer, there is plenty on offer for you.