Germany impress with big win over New Zealand
Pool B – NZL 1-3 GER
Germany seemed to have recovered well from Sunday’s defeat against Argentina. In their last pool match against New Zealand they were on fire from the first minute of the match. After Celine Wilde had won an early penalty corner Nina Hasselmann (5’) was the one who scored to give Germany the early lead. The attempt was close to failing after the Germans were unable to control the ball at the circle, however, Katharina Otte picked it up and managed to shoot on goal. The shot was saved by the diving New Zealand keeper Sally Rutherford but Hasselmann smashed in the deflection.

Germany stayed the dominating side winning another penalty corner soon after. The Black Sticks took their team-referral because they were sure that there was no foot in the circle. Their call was denied by the video umpire and the corner stayed. Hasselmann was successful again but this time the umpires used their referral to check whether there has any obstruction occurred. The goal was finally denied by the video umpire. Germany continued to keep the pressure on. Hasselmann (9’) who was particularly on fire converted another penalty corner when she net from a short angle. The 25 year old is the second German player ever to score two penalty corner goals in a Champions Trophy match.

New Zealand penetrated the German circle in the middle of the first half for the first time. They failed to score from three penalty corners as German keeper Yvonne Frank saved brilliantly. Lisa Hahn’s counter-attack goal resulted in a 3-0 halftime score, the same result as in 2011’s Champions Trophy encounter when Germany won 5-2 after a 3-0 lead at halftime.

Play got hectic in the second half as the Black Sticks were urgent to score. New Zealand stretched the German defence and used their speed to penetrate into the circle for a number of promising attacks. One of these let to New Zealand’s goal through Anita Punt (61’) to make the 3-1. German coach Michael Behrmann was really busy in trying to keep his team well-structured. The German team responded to his advice and kept the Black Sticks from scoring further.

Match Review 11. New Zealand - Germany  1-3

> If Argentina beat Korea, Germany play China in the quarterfinals. Otherwise Germany take on Japan.
> New Zealand take on GB if Argentina beat Korea. Otherwise they take on Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
> Nina Hasselmann became only the second German player ever to score 2 PC goals in a CT match and the first since Franziska Hentschel in 1991 (4-2 vs Korea).
> Nina Hasselmann also became the first German player to score twice in a CT match since Céline Wilde scored twice against China in 2011. It marked her first goals in 27 CT matches.
> Germany has scored 2 of 4 PC awarded within 10 minutes of the game.
> Lisa Hahn is now on 3 goals in 3 CT matches. She is the first German player to score in 3 successive CT matches since Natascha Keller in 2010. Other German players to have scored in 3 consecutive matches are Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (2007), Britta Becker (2000), again Natascha Keller (1999) and Caren Jungjohann (1989).
> Germany converted 2 of 5 penalty corners today and are now on 4 from 17 in the tournament (24%).
> New Zealand are the only team yet to convert a penalty corner at Rosario 2012. They failed to score from 3 in this match and are now on 0 for 7 in the tournament.
> New Zealand have now conceded 2 of 17 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.
> The Black Stick defence has faced most penalty corners at Rosario 2012 (17 in 3 matches).
> Germany have conceded 2 of 10 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.

Match Preview 11. New Zealand - Germany  (January 31st, 5:30pm)

Head-to-Heads
> Last year, these teams met three times with each side wining once and drawing once.
> In June 2011 in Berlin, New Zealand beat Germany 4-3 and recorded a 3-3 draw.
> At the 2011Champions Trophy Germany beat New Zealand 1-0 through a Julia Müller PC goal (28’).
> At the 2010 CT Germany beat New Zealand 5-2, leading 5-0 after 60 minutes.
> At the 2010 World Cup in Rosario, Germany beat New Zealand 2-0, goals scored by Céline Wilde and Tina Bachmann (PC).
> At the 2004 Champions Trophy in Rosario, Germany and New Zealand split the points (2-2) through goals by Meredith Orr, Lizzy Igasan, Natascha Keller and Tina Schütze.

New Zealand
> New Zealand have drawn both of their matches 2-2 vs Argentina and 2-2 vs Korea.
> All four of New Zealand’s goals came from open play, goalscorer were Cathryn Finlayson, Katie Glynn, Samantha Harrison and Stacey Michelsen.
> Katie Glynn is New Zealand’s top goalscorer in CT competition on 6 goals. She leads Charlotte Harrison who is on 5 CT career goals.
> The Black Sticks have not converted any of their 4 penalty corners awarded at Rosario 2012.
> New Zealand have conceded 2 of 12 penalty corners awarded to their opponents. The Black Stick defence has faced most penalty corners at Rosario 2012 (12 in 2 days).
> New Zealand are ranked 6th on the FIH world ranking.
> Since 2008 (11th), the Black Sticks have improved their world ranking every year moving up to 9th in 2009, 7th in 2010 and 6th in 2011.
> Coach Mark Hager has taken the team from 12th to sixth ranked team in the world.
> Anita Punt and Gemma Flynn were named in the FIH All Star team in 2011.

Germany
> Germany beat Korea 4-2 on Day 1 only to lose 4-2 to Argentina on Day 2.
> Lisa Hahn has scored twice for Germany in 2 CT matches. The other German goalscorers at Rosario 2012 are Anke Brockmann (PC), Hannah Krüger, Céline Wilde and Tina Schütze.
> Germany have converted 2 of 12 penalty corners at Rosario 2012.
> Germany have conceded 2 of 7 penalty corners awarded to their opponents.
> Germany and Korea conceded 6 goals each in 2 matches at Rosario 2012.
> Germany are ranked 3rd on the FIH World Ranking.
> Germany had a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign in 2011, finishing at the bottom of the rankings for the first time in the history of the tournament.
> The team rebounded to finish second at the 2011 EuroHockey Nations Championships and secure its place in London for the Olympic Games.
> Germany finished third the last time the Champions Trophy was held in Argentina, in Quilmes in 2007.
> Goalkeeper Yvonne Frank, defender Julia Müller and forward Natascha Keller were all selected in the FIH 2011 Women’s All Star team.