Australia set up yet another India-Pakistan clash when they hammered Argentina 8-3 to join Holland in the final of the 25th Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today. The victory took Australia’s tally to 10 points at the end of the league, while Argentina, who needed to win today to make the final, remained on six, the same as India. FIH unveils new logo THE International Hockey Federation (FIH) dressed itself up as a “global brand” by unveiling its new marketing identity ‘Worldhockey’. “The new brand and logo set will serve as a vehicle for the global promotion of hockey,” said FIH president Els Van Breda Vriesman. “The brand will work in parallel with FIH’s existing identity, though it will feature more strongly at fih major events,” she said. However, India (-2) finished ahead of Argentina (-5) in the league standings on superior goal-difference. India thus will play Pakistan tomorrow for the bronze medal. Argentina take on Germany for the 5-6 spots. The awesome Aussie firepower was well in evidence as Michael McCann (12th, 53rd), Craig Victory (28th), Grant Schubert (39th, 56th), Troy Elder (55th), Robert Hammond (59th) and Tristam Woodhouse (63rd) came up with clinical finishes. Argentina, hopelessly outplayed in the second-half, had their moments of success when Jorge Lombi (45th, 68th) and Carlos Retegui (57th) scored. Later, in an inconsequential match, the Netherlands got past Germany 6-0, without raising much of a sweat and top the table with 13 points. Germany, fielding a development team, suffered their fifth straight defeat. The Dutch virtually sealed the issue in the first-half when, during a nine-minute spell, they struck thrice through penalty corner specialist Bram Lomans (20th, 29th) and Karel Klaver (25th) before easing off. Late in the game, ace playmaker Teun de Nooijer got into the act by scoring the fourth in the 62nd minute and another in the 68th. In the final minute, Floris Evers made it 6-0 to complete the German misery. Incidentally, the Dutch tally of strikes brought the number of goals in the tournament to an astonishing 109 in 15 matches. In the Australia-Argentina match, the score-line would suggest a one-sided encounter, but it was only in the latter stages of the second-half did the Aussies really took control, for until then, Argentina were very much in the game. The Aussie play underlined their strong team work marked by quick releases, accurate passing and a sure finish, be it in field play or during penalty corners. Argentina were looking to nurse their goal-difference which would have put them up for a play-off against Pakistan for 3-4 positions. But, on the day, they had just no answer to the Aussies who were unstoppable in the second-half.
