Battle-hardened Kookaburras ready for German onslaught
Published Tue 03 Aug 2021
The Kookaburras go into their sudden death semi-final against four-time Olympic champions Germany battle-hardened and with enormous belief after their epic quarter-final victory over the Netherlands.
Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch believes the encounter against the Dutch – and hard-fought round clashes with New Zealand and Spain – have given his team much-needed match play after a limited preparation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
To make the gold medal play-off and be a chance of winning just Australia’s second Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey, the Kookaburras must beat a confident German side who accounted for reigning Olympic Champions Argentina 3-1.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Men’s Hockey Semi Final
Kookaburras v Germany
Tuesday 3 August 2021
Oi Stadium, Tokyo
Start time: 7:00pm local (8:00pm AEST)
Broadcast: LIVE on 7Plus
Kookaburras v Germany – Overall Record
Played 111; Kookaburras 47, Draws 17, Germany 47
Last time they met
16-Jun-19 FIH Pro League (Krefeld, Germany)
Germany 1 (Miltkau 59’)
Kookaburras 2 (Craig 42’, Govers 52’)
Kookaburras squad: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matthew Dawson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 15.Josh Simmonds, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 25.Trent Mitton, 29.Tim Brand, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
