India begin campaign against formidable Germany in World Cup Hocke

New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) A tough opener awaits India as they take on defending champions Germany in the inaugural match of the Men's World Cup hockey tournament to be held at Monchengladbach, Germany from September 6-17.

India, the 1975 edition winners, are placed in a stiff Group A along with South Korea, former winners Netherlands, England, South Africa besides hosts Germany.

Group B consists of Olympic Champion Australia, former tiltle holder Pakistan, Spain, Argentina, Japan and New Zealand.

India has finished ninth in 1998 at Utrecht, Holland and went worse in Malaysia in 2002, finishing 10th.

The inaugural match of the 12-day tournament has been scheduled one and a half hours before the opening ceremony which will be followed by Argentina-New Zealand and South Korea-Netherlands matches.

India will then have a breathing space as they take comaparatively weaker teams England and South Africa in their next two league matches in Pool A on Sepetember 7 and 9.

But on September 11, they will look for a revenge against South Korea who beat them in the Asian Games final and play their last round robin league match next day against the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, arch rivals and four-time winners Pakistan kick off their campaign against minnows Japan on September 7, while Olympic Champions Australia play their first match against Spain on the same day.

The semi-finals of the 12-team tournament will be played on September 15 while the final is scheduled for September 17.

Following is the draw: September 6: Germany vs India; Argentina vs New Zealand; Korea vs Netherlands September 7: India vs England; Pakistan vs Japan; Australia vs Spain; Netherlands vs South Africa September 8: New Zealand vs Pakistan; England vs Korea Spain vs Argentina September 9: India vs South Africa; Germany vs Netherlands Japan vs New Zealand September 10: Argentina vs Australia; Pakistan vs Spain England vs Germany; Korea vs South Africa Australia vs Japan September 11: Spain vs New Zealand; India vs Korea Argentina vs Pakistan; Netherlands vs England September 12: New Zealand vs Australia; Japan vs Argentina Germany vs South Africa; India vs Netherlands September 13: Japan vs Spain; Korea vs Germany; South Africa vs England; Australia vs Pakistan September 14: Rest Day September 15: 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B; 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A Semi-final: 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B; 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A September 16: 5th Pool A vs 6th Pool B; 5th Pool B vs 6th Pool A September 17: Match for third place followed by final.

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