Hockey: Career high awaits in Dutch treat

Shea McAleese puts his body on the line against Germany in The Hague. Photo/Dirk Markgraf

The abacus is out but the Black Sticks men are under no illusions about making the playoffs at the World Cup in The Netherlands.

"We have a mathematical chance of making it but that won't happen. The Argies are in a strong position to take the second spot," Shea McAleese said from The Hague last night.

The New Zealanders lost 5-3 to Germany on Sunday night but Argentina, who have now beaten the Germans, the Kiwis and the Koreans, play world No 12 South Africa in the last pool B match.

Conversely, the Colin Batch-coached Black Sticks face hosts The Netherlands at 5.40am tomorrow.

"For a lot of us that'll be a career-high opportunity to play in front of a packed house who'll be going crazy for the Dutch," McAleese said of the pool B leaders who are on 12 points.

Argentina are on nine points while the Kiwis and reigning Olympic champions Germany have six but the latter have a better goal average after two wins and as many losses each.

The Central Mavericks midfielder said the best they could do was beat the Dutch at soccer's Kyocera Stadium in a bid to play for 5th-6th playoffs and they couldn't finish any worse than eighth.

The Sticks are playing their match last so will be in a better position to change their game plan, mindful of how many goals they require in a victory.

That will, no doubt, require them to adopt a hell-for-leather approach because winning won't be enough without a better goal average.

"We'll not only have to win but also do it in style."

McAleese said the lads were disappointed after placing high expectations on themselves in making the semifinals.

"At a minimum we wanted to play for 5th-6th so we may not get the chance to do that now."

Against Germany, the Kiwis were guilty of sitting too deep and chasing crumbs from broken play.

However, the scrambling cover defence were caught on the hop several times as the Germans used their agility and dexterity to post a 5-1 lead at one stage.

Defender Andy Hayward scored a hattrick for the second time at the cup from penalty-corners drag flicks, the first coming from McAleese-drawn foul.

McAleese, who placed the ball deftly from penalty corners for Hayward, also marshalled the engine room well but the Kiwis often elected to dribble through up to five white shirts when a deft cross into the D would have done the trick.

"They [Germany] are a hard team to break down. They are the most structured side in the world and they make the pitch big.

"They are like Spain, in soccer, who are hard to get the ball off," he said, adding the Kiwis conceded too many soft goals and the last 15-minute rally was too little, too late.

- The Black Sticks women drew 0-0 with Australia in their final pool game last night, as the latter advanced to the playoffs.

The Kiwis had six shots at goal but five were wide off target as the opposition put up the shutters.

The Aussies had two shots at goal and both were on target.

Result: Germany 5 (Christopher Zeller 2, Florian Fuchs, Martin Zwicker, Benedict Furk) Black Sticks 3 (Andy Hayward hattrick).

HT: 3-1, Germany.