KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been a good hunting ground for the German hockey team.And Germany hopes to land their seventh Junior World Cup (JWC) crown when the tournament starts at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Dec 5.
The European giants won three of their six JWC titles in Malaysia, achieving it in 1982 (KL), 1989 (Ipoh), and 2009 (jointly hosted by Johor and Singapore). Germany's other titles were achieved in 1985 (Vancouver, Canada), 1993 (Terrassa, Spain), and 2013 (New Delhi, India).
In the last JWC in Bhubaneswar, India, in 2021, Germany lost 4-2 to Argentina in the final. Germany are feeling confident about their chances after winning the Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) in Johor Baru last month.
The Germans are in Group B with South Africa, Egypt and France.Coach Rein van Eijk said his players have adapted well to the weather in Malaysia thanks to their outing in the SoJC.
"It gives us a little bit of an advantage going into the World Cup compared to other teams from Europe. "We have played 19 international matches in our build-up for the JWC. The JWC will be tough, but we are ready for it," said Van Eijk.
Besides Germany, the other countries who have won the JWC are India (2001, 2016) and Argentina (2005, 2021), Pakistan (1979) and Australia (1997).