HOCKEY WORLD CUP - Germany Vs New Zealand

Germany Make the Grade

New Delhi: The German machine roared, stuttered a bit, then sprung back to life. A 5-2 victory over New Zealand in Tuesday's action in the Hero Honda FIH World Hockey Cup sealed a semifinal spot for the Olympic and defending champions but not before the Black sticks threatened to spoil the script by reducing a 0-3 deficit to 2-3.

             The Kiwis, handicapped without injured captain and striker Phillip Burrows, now face the possibility of playing off for the 9th-10th positions unless Canada beat Argentina to push them a rung higher.

              Germany on their part won't be affected by the next match between the Netherlands and soth Korea, one of whom will now be eliminated fromthe semifinal race.

                Captain Maximillian Muller wasn't entirely happy with his team's performance but praised his players' ability to play as a solid unit. "After being 3-0 up we lowered out game by 20 percent. Guess it's a mental thing, " he said.

           A disappointed Dean Couzins, the stand-in NZ captain, said, "We didn't play well enough in crucial positions in the last two matches and, of course, we missed Phil (Burrows)."

Argentina take fourth spot in Pool A

           Argentina finally broke a losing sequence against Pan American arch rivals Canada with an exciton 4-2 win. The result now lifts Argentina to fourth in the pool deeming New Zealand to fifth spot and a play off for 10th spot with South Africa. Argentina now play Inida for 7th spot on Friday.