March 9, 2002	Saturday	Zilhaj 24, 1422

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KUALA LUMPUR, March 7: Australia and Germany head into the final of the 10th World Cup hockey Tournament tomorrow with both camps terming each other as the favourites to win the trophy in what appeared to be psychological moves on the eve of the big match.

European champions Germany, who have not been able to lay their hands on the glittering trophy in nine attempts, feel that the speedy Australians, as the Dutch found out in their semifinal Thursday, could put them under pressure. “They are very fast, have excellent ball movements and we are wary of them,” German coach Bernhard Peters said.

Barry Dancer, the Australian coach who masterminded the 4-1 rout of the Dutch, said they had a high respect for the Germans. “Both teams are well matched and I don’t think we have any particular strength,” he said while admitting that speed was one of the key factors in their earlier victories.

Australia, winners of the World Cup in 1986, have gone eight matches without defeat in this tournament but Dancer remarked his side had a strong potential to lose Saturday, if they did not make amends for the wrongs they did in the semifinal. “There were things that we did not do well yesterday and we have to do them right in the final.”

The Aussies gave away as many as 13 short corners to Holland in the match, but only some good goalkeeping by Dreher Lachlan prevented them from scoring. “He was outstanding and his defence of penalty corners was the key.”

Dancer felt that the final would be a close contest and extra-time, if things came to that, could prove crucial. “But we have to adjust ourselves well tomorrow and be unpredictable.”

Dancer believes that his class of 2002 could not be compared with the Australian side that won the World Cup in London. “The game was a lot different in 1986 than what it is now. The style has changed and so have the demands on the players.”

German coach Peters meanwhile pointed out that it would be a hard game for them although they beat the Aussies at the Champions Trophy final in Rotterdam last November and also in a preliminary match. “I think they have worked hard ever since and seem to be in good physical condition.” “Though they have won all their matches, we still have a chance, because even if we are a goal or two down, we can come back.”

Germany will be looking to the skills of their captain Florian Kunz, named FIH World Player of the Year Wednesday, the exciting Oliver Domke, Michael Green and Christian Mayerhofer in their bid to unsettle their rivals.

Aside from the skills under the bars of Dreher, the Aussies would be relying on Craig Victory, who has scored six goals in the tournament and is in fifth place on the goal-scorers list.

Captain Paul Gaudion, Michael McCann and Jeremy Hiskins, among others should provide a good challenge to the might of boys from Down Under in a final that is expected to go down to wire.

Both sides do not have any major injury worries ahead of the big match, which is expected to draw a large crowd at the National Stadium.