LONDON, England: Australian coach Richard ‘Aggis has sounded a warning to all their rivals after they captured the World Men’s Hockey Cup for the first time.

The Australians will defend the title in Pakistan in four years’ time and Aggis, who guided the Aussies to their 21 victory over host nation England in the final, told those countries aiming to relieve them of the crown.

“Unfortunately for the rest of the world this team will be better in another year on two. Though we had a good team at the 1984 Olympics  somehow . I think, this is probably a better team because Of the balance.

“It is certainly the best team I have seen for a very long time they have played very, very well better than any other team I have seen in a major tournament, except Pakistan in Bombay in 1982.

“They have scored 31 goals and had only seven scored against them. You cannot say anything more than that”.

However, Australia, the pretournament favourites, chose the final to produce their least impressive performance of an event which confirmed the shift in power in the sport.

Pakistan, the defending champions, and India have for so long been the masters of hockey but unbelievably found them selves suffering the humiliating experience of playing off for the wooden spoon here.

‘And all that after South Korea had created a sensation by beating the Pal the Asian Games final only two weeks earlier.

“Those were the longest  six minutes of my life”, commented ‘Aggis. “You just hope the players do the things they have practiced and absorb all the pressures England were starting to put on. We played a lot better in Los Angles, but we got nothing and this time we are going home with that gold medal. That happens in sports some times and we are very happy it has happened”.

Australia also walked off with the Player of the Tournament award in the shape of experienced midfielder Ric Charles worth, a deserved nomination for the man who comfortably headed the competition’s score charts with seven goals.

But when International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch handed over the medals, England had to be satisfied with silver and the “Goalkeeper of the Tournament” award for Ian Taylor.

“But we are proud of what we have achieved in this tournament. There was only one team who went out to attack Australia and that was the other finalists”.

However, the World Cup could be the last to feature England by 1990 Great Britain are likely to replace them.

England manager Colin Whalley explained, “Paper has been put forward by the Hockey Association, proposing that Great Britain take part in the next World Cup.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 21, 1986