BHUBANESWAR: Precision over passion, tactics over temper: Gonzalo Peillat has imbibed the German style of hockey well. The deadly drag-flicker from Argentina, who switched allegiance to Germany last year, was the hat-trick hero as the Die Honamas scripted another stunning comeback to put out the mighty Australia in the semifinal of the FIH World Cup.
At the Kalinga stadium here on Friday, the Germans prevailed 4-3 in an edge-of-the-seat thriller.
The first semifinal was only an appetiser, as defending champions Belgium and Netherlands put up ablockbuster performance in the other last-four contest. The Red Lions battled past their neighbours 3-2 in the shootout after both the teams were locked 2-2 during regulation time.
With 13 seconds remaining on the clock and a 3-3 scoreline, Peillat gave an angular pass from the 23m line. With the Australians focusing on Justus Weigand, an unmarked Niklas Wellen scored the winner from behind the defenders.
Earlier, Germany, who rallied in a similar fashion to get past England in a last-8 contest, played catch-up for the better part of the match. Australia, coming off a sustained period of dominance, went ahead with Jeremy Hayward's penalty corner conversion in the 11th minute. With ball possession oscillating between the two sides, the Kookaburras managed to find cracks in the German defence. Lachlan Sharp was in sync with Tom Wickham, who assisted Nathan Ephraums to double the lead with four minutes to go for half-time.
There were penalty corner hits and misses on either side before Peillat, in his fourth consecutive attempt, flicked the ball past Andrew Charter. The dragflick completed his hat-trick with two minutes to go and helped his team draw level after Blake Govers had given Australia a 3-2 advantage in the 57th minute.
Peillat later said, "My heart is about to explode. I told the boys, let us try to find a way to win without going for it at the last second. We are there until the last second and fighting for the opportunity."
On the key difference between playing for Argentina and Germany, the 30-year-old defender said, "Back in Argentina we are more passionate and in the German culture we are calmer and always go with tactics and try to find the opposition's weak point."
India's loss, Germany's gain
South African Robin Arkell, who was the strength and conditioning coach of India since 2017 and played a key role in their podium finish at Tokyo, now heads same department for Germany. "He is a really good guy. What he does here is great, especially in recovery," said German coach Andre Henning.
Champions' run
Belgium banked on experience but not before the young Dutch side gave them a hard time. Jip Janssen put the Dutch in control with a brace, while Tom Boon and Nicolas de Kerpel stretched the match into the shootout. Seasoned goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch was rock-solid and created his team's pathway to the final.
RESULTS
Australia 3 (Jeremy Hayward 11, Nathan Ephraums 26, Blake Govers 57) lost to Germany 4 (Gonzalo Peillat 42, 51, 58; Niklas Wellen 59). Belgium 3 (Victor Wegnez, Arthur de Sloover, Florent van Aubel) beat Netherlands 2 (Jonas de Gues, Jorrit Croon): Regulation time: Belgium: 2 (Tom Boon 26, Nicolas de Kerpel 44); Netherlands 2 (Jip Janssen 11, 33)
