Pakistan might have lost its first game in this World Cup but Muhammad Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, the Pakistan Hockey Federation president, is happy with the reception Pakistan received in the Bhubaneswar.
Man of the Match: The 26-year-old Mats Grambusch, in his 124th appearance for Germany, picks up the award.
FULL TIME. Germany 1 - 0 Pakistan. The European side picks up three points but it was made to work hard for the points. The Green Shirts did its best to get an equaliser but the finishing touch evaded it.
60' Dan Nguyen with a fantastic tackle from the side to stop a Pakistan attack.
59' Ajaz Ahmad gets into the Germany circle and flashes a shot across the face of the German goal.
57' Muhammad Irfan picks up a green card and Pakistan will play out most of the game with 10 men. Christopher Rhur also gets a green card.
53' Germany thought it doubled its lead but Pakistan asks for a referrel. Wellen's shot is deflected into the goal by Miltkau. The question is, did it go in off Miltkau's body? It did and Pakistan has a freehit instead.
52' Pakistan is down to 10 players as Muhammad Irfan Jr. is shown the green card.
51' Wellen falls to the floor and wins Germany a long corner.
48' Niklas Wellen gets past Rashid Mehmood and smashes just wide from an acute angle.
46' The final quarter of the game is underway. Can Pakistan get a goal in the final match of the first round?
Third quarter comes to an end and Germany takes a 1-0 lead in the final 15 minutes of the match. Pakistan hasn't given up though, it has carved out decent changes but the finishing touch is evading them.
43' Pakistan with a good counter through Ali Shan but he lacks support and eventually loses possession.
41' Germany wins a penalty corner after Tobias Hauke's shot comes off the leg of a Pakistan player. Tom Grambusch shoots just wide after Hauke dummied. Inches away from making it 2-0.
38' Muhammad Zubair almost found the equaliser at the other end. He might regret the miss if the match ends on the same score.
36' GOAL! Marco Miltkau scores the opening goal of the game and Germany takes the lead! Miltkau stretches and scoops the ball over the onrushing keeper.
35' Abu Mahmood thought he won a corner but the referee gives Germany a freehit. He doesn't like that decision.
31' Germany gets the third quarter underway with Christopher Rhur. The Green Shirts win possession right away.
First half ends with no goals scored. Both teams cancelling each other out so far.
29' Pakistan’s captain Muhammad Rizwan Sr. has been eager to get on the ball every time his team gets possession. The attack-minded midfielder, who loves creating goal-scoring chances, has been representing his country since 2009.
28' Wellen tries to run past his marker but is pushed well wide and away from the goal before the ball rolls out.
26' Niklas Wellen turns and smashes well wide of Imran Butt's goal.
FUN FACT: Pakistan's coach Tauqeer Dar was a member of the Pakistan side that claimed the Olympic gold medal at Los Angeles 1984.
22' Unlike the opening game of the day, both teams here are doing well to match the other. No goals in the game but it has been end-to-end stuff till now.
21' Christopher Ruhr gets a green card.
20' Germany with two back-to-back shots on goal but Pakistan holds its fort before Rashid Mehmood brings the ball out of the defence and away from his goal.
16' Pakistan gets the second quarter underway.
First quarter ends with the score 0-0.
13' Two minutes left in the first quarter and the match is evenly poised. Both teams with decent half chances, nothing more.
12' Niklas Wellen in the thick of things whenever Germany is in possesion.
10' Pakistan slowing the game down when in possession, which seems to be frustrating the Germans. Tactics or just its style of play?
5' The Green Shirts win back possession in the middle of the pitch but can't make the most of a quick counterattack.
3' Christopher Ruhr with a good pass but Imran Butt makes a comfortable save.
2' Pakistan is happy to let Germany keep possession in the opening minutes of the game.
1' Pakistan gets the first quarter underway. Germany playing in its white and black kit while Pakistan is dressed in its green and white.
This is how the team lineup at the start of the game:
This match is a replay of the 1982 World Cup final in Mumbai. The teams are out and we are fives minutes away from the start.
In the first Pool D game of the day, Netherlands thrashed Malaysia 7-0 and you can check out how that match unfolded over here.
Pakistan trivial
- World ranking: 13
- How it qualified: 7th Place – Hero Hockey World League Semi-Final London
Pakistan men have lifted the trophy on a record four occasions as well as twice claiming the silver medal. The Green Shirts were victorious at the 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994 events, with its four titles being one more than three-time winners Netherlands and Australia.
It is a welcome return to World Cup action for this famous hockey playing nation, following its failure to qualify for the 2014 edition.
Germany Trivia
- World ranking: 6
- How it qualified: 2nd Place – Hockey World League Semi-Final Johannesburg.
After winning silver at the EuroHockey Championships in 2015, bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and silver in Johannesburg at the HWL Semi-Finals, Germany will be eyeing its third World Cup gold medal this century following its success in 2002 and 2006.
Playing as either West Germany (until 1990) or Germany, the team has a haul of eight World Cup medals and has never finished lower than sixth (2014).
In the second match of Pool D, Germany takes on Pakistan. The match starts at 7 p.m IST.
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