LONDON England: The sixth Men’s World Hockey Cup will surely be remembered as perhaps the greatest hockey event of all time. The drama of the games and the closeness of the competition; the skill of the players the organization by the English Hockey Association together with the pageantry huge crowds and extensive press television and radio coverage all combined to make it a tournament of remarkable character. It gave hockey a new style.
From the moment the Parachute Regiments Red Devils Free fall Parachute Team dropped in with the flags of St. George and the World Hockey Federation together with the bail ball for the opening game to the closing ceremony it was an exciting tournament.
During the competition hockey impinged on the British national sporting consciousness. The minority game acquired a majority audience. For the first time in27 years the BBCs Televisions Saturday “Football Focus” was moved from its sacrosanct lunchtime spot to allow live coverage of the England against West Germany semifinal. Then extra time forced some frantic rescheduling in the studios.
It was also a triumph for “English” style hockey. Australia England and West Germany the three medal lists each achieved their highest ever placing in the World Cup. They played with skill fluidity flair strength discipline with an accuracy of distribution to establish their success. One thing is certain nobody is afraid of anybody else anymore and this fact vas best illustrated by the eclipse of the World and Olympic champions. Pakistan and of India.
The first days 3-1 defeat of Pakistan by Argentina quickly made nonsense of the seeding’s. Argentina had introduced eight of its Junior World Cup side and under its very experienced captain Marcelo Garraffo was a force with which to be reckoned. They went on to qualify for the first time for the Champions Trophy to be held in Amsterdam next June.
Spain which finished one place ahead of Argentina under its new coach Diego Silla is coming back into the reckoning after several Jean years. It has a number of very useful juniors including Ignacio Escude a comer striker of rare ability. The USSR was again the leading East European side sharp and very fit with a dangerous left side attack but Poland may be challenging them soon.
Canada and New Zealand were at times light weight in attack Both teams also clearly lack the opportunities for regular top class compilation Probably the most disappointing team was the Netherlands The absence of skilled men in key places emphasized the declining skills of some of the older players.
Germany al thought finishing with the bronze was aside of little flair. The veteran Heiner Dopp kept them going and they have a bright new player in Michael Hilgers.
Of Australia and England much has been written Australia a team everyone expects to succeed but which has found that the Olympic and World Cup titles have always eluded it came good at last. That they did so they owed essentially tor. Rick Charles worth an Australian MP who masterminded the victory and was voted the “Player of the Tournament” Like England it has several promising new players who made their mark at Willesden particularly wingers Neil Haygood and Grant Mitton.
For England it was an outstanding team performance. Inspired by the Captain Dr. Richard Dodds and goalkeeper lan Taylor voted goalkeeper of the tournament it had in Sean Kerly a striker of rare courage and aggression but pee haps above all Free.
The sixth World Cup marked the rise of anew dynasty which has thrived on artificial surfaces. There are hundreds of them in Europe including more than 150 in England. In Australia there are seven in the main cities on which nearly all their domestic tournaments and international matches are played.
SKILL FACTOR: Phil Apple yard President of the English Hockey Association who masterminded the organization said after the final: “The introduction of artificial surfaces is the biggest single advancement in the history of the game.
It has improved the skill factor and turned hockey into a major spectacle. He should not overlook the high quality of coaching in Europe and Australia. The appointment of David Whitaker England’s success into perspective
Pakistan and India have a lot of rethinking to do Pakistan left with the firm resolve to put its house in order and news has already been received that its coach Anwar Ahmad Khan and Captain Kali: mullah have resigned. India left with the fervent plea to its own government for help in providing more artificial turf pitches There are only two in that vast country.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 5, 1986
