The big news of the day was the suspension of two players. Pakistan's Irfan Muhammad received a one match suspension for wearing an unauthorised piece of equipment at a penalty corner. The team manager was given a severe reprimand. But the main controversy came when India's Shivendra Singh was given a three match suspension for 'physical assault without serious injury' During the match Pakistan's Fareed Ahmed was hit above the eye by the stick of Shivendra, causing a small cut. However, as the ball had gone a way forward it went unnoticed by the umpires who took no action then. Tournament director, Ken Read, reviewed the video evidence and interviewed both players and determined that the incident was not accidental. He took into account Shivendra's past good record when handing only a three match ban.
At the press conference, when asked, he said that the Indian team had appealed and an Appeal Jury would hopefully make a decision tonight. However a statement issued later in the day said that no decision would be communicated until noon tomorrow. The determination could make a difference to England. If it is changed to only a two match suspension he will not miss the third match, which is against England.
In game one of day two, New Zealand took on Canada in the clash of the underdogs, with New Zealand coming out 3-2 winners.
It was a very low key game for those not from Canada or New Zealand, not helped by the sparse crowd today. This was partly because India was not playing, but more likely the fact that everyone was still celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colour.
Canada took the lead in the first minute with a field goal from Mark Pearson but it took New Zealand just ten minutes to equalise through Priyesh Bhana. However, it was Canada who went into half time with a 2-1 lead when Scott Tupper scored.
It was the strength and determination of the New Zealand team which came through in the end with goals in the second half from a penalty corner by Nicholas Haig and a field goal from Ryan Archibald.
After their bronze medal in Melbourne, it should not have been a surprise that the Koreans came out strongly against two time reigning World Cup holders Germany. The fact that the Germans, like Australia in their game against England yesterday, had many more corners than Korea and were unable to convert them, was more of a surprise. They had their chances but failed to deliver. Korea struck quickly and firmly to take control of the game with a 2-0 lead at half time. Goals came from a penalty corner strike by Hye Sung Hung and a goal from Nam Yong Lee which keeper Max Weinhold will be having nightmares about, having gone straight into the goal on his near side.
In the second half Germany fought back and a field goal from the youngest player of the tournament, Florian Fuchs, diving in to meet a hit into the circle by Moritz Furste, gave them hope. They equalised eight minutes later through Benjamin Wess after Korea failed to clear a penalty corner. Germany survived a scare two minutes later when a superb tackle by Martin Haner robbed Eun Seong Hong as he was about to put Korea back in front. 2-2 at the final whistle.
In the final game of the day The Netherlands took on Argentina in an ultimately very one-sided affair.
The Dutch started well when in the first half when Verga went close in the first ten minutes. When they won their first penalty corner of the game, Taeke Taekema stepped up to score into the top of the net. Argentina went close, earning a penalty corner themselves which brought out a super save by veteran keeper Guus Vogels, in his last international tournament. His save on the half hour spurred the Dutch on and when they won another penalty corner Taekema stepped up again, this time putting the ball low and left of the keeper to make it 2-0.
Three corners in quick succession, the second after a video referral, gave Argentina a chance to strike, but once again they were thwarted by the saves of Vogels. He was in action again when his defence went to sleep and left an Argentine player free in the circle. And the Argentines must have realised it was not their day when he again went full stretch to keep them out. Kemperman's went close to scoring when he received a back pass from captain Teun de Nooijer, but shot wide. With ten minutes remaining The Netherlands earned their third penalty corner and up stepped Taekema to put it low again and complete his hat-trick. 3-0 to the Dutch at the final whistle.
