German, Korean coaches defend their teams, Dutch criticise them

Monchengladbach, Sep 14 (UNI) German and Korean coaches have defended their teams' tactics during yesterday's league match which ensured them semi-final berths in the Hockey World Cup, but Dutch coach criticised them saying the match was not a ''good publicity for the game.'' ''We played to win but it happened that we just could not score'', said German coach Bernhard Peters.

''I don't think you can impute motives in this draw,'' he told mediapersons after the game adding ''no team will like to lose in such a situation.

''We tried to score but we also had to defend, a defeat for us would have meant failing to make it to the last four.

''We were the better side. We played to a plan and topped the pool. We defended the goal while attacking the rival citadel,'' Peters said.

''Don't bring some non existing issues, we played before a packed stadium and the result was very fair as far as I am concerned,'' he said.

''I don't know why people have started doubting the result.

Is it the first draw, or is it the first time that no team has scored? We played like professionals and did what we needed to do to reach semi-finals.'' Korean coach Sung Jun Cho described his team as full of professionals ''who play to win and also know how to force a draw if need be.'' ''Before the start of the match, we knew what the situation was like. We had either to win or to draw to make it to the last four.

''We did not want to lose so we opted to play safe, defensive and it resulted in a draw. Germans and Koreans are professional teams. We know there was question of tacit understanding, but it is very difficult to play draw,'' he said.

''We played according to our potential. Yes, we did not go all out and once we realised that result is not forthcoming or may go against us, we slowed down the pace of the game and adopted defensive strategy.

''I think it was a faur result,'' he added.

Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, however, has a different take on the match.

''There was no intention to play for win and we are not happy with this result,'' he said.

He, however, ruled out the possibility of lodging a protest against what one journalist called a ''manufactured draw'' saying, ''I don't see any possibility of protest.'' Oltmans said, ''Luck was not with us, otherwise we would not have dropped points in the league. We were in such a position that the draw knocked us out but the way the match was played does not augur well for the game.'' He said had his boys were playing they would have tried to force a result.

''We would have tried to win, but today there was no intention to force the result,'' he said.

The Dutch Coach, however, admitted that the teams (Germans and Koreans) did play to protect their interest.

''They had the right to do what they did,'' he said adding ''we would not have done that.'' He said this World Cup has been a big disappointment for the Dutch as they were in the running for the title but will have to play for fifth to eighth places.

The Dutch play Pakistan tomorrow.

UNI HSB PDS HT1157