Paris — Without his trademark headband — he has a wedding looming, tans easily and presumably doesn’t want to look like a golfer in the big day photographs — Christopher Ruhr still proved a recognisable world force as Germany prevailed 2-1 over Great Britain men on Friday night.
Ruhr tore his cruciate ligament at January’s Olympic qualifiers, delaying surgery to recover and somehow convincing coach Andre Henning of fitness. He scored on his return four months later. And against GB in this final Pool game, he tore into GB with a superb backhand and cool penalty stroke push before Paul Revington’s side produced another late foray — their fourth in a row. In the end, though, it was a first Olympic defeat of their campaign and, after two disallowed goals, a quarter-final with India. Germany, as Pool table toppers, will play Argentina. Certainly the favoured draw of the two.
GB captain David Ames said: “We’ve got a squad that doesn’t give up, that fights to the last minute and we’ve done that four games in a row. We’re going to need that on Sunday against India and we’ll see what happens.”
This was a match which could have taken on a completely different outlook. Had Belgium not scored with 30 seconds left of their 3-3 draw with Argentina, it would have left Australia in fourth and the winner here facing the Kookaburras. Would we have seen 60 minutes of drab, back and forth hockey with no team fancying Australia in the last eight?
Earlier, PR Sreejesh had stuck out his glove in a frantic circle melee to earn India a first win over Australia at Olympic level since 1972. An already wide open draw was producing action and pool placings no one had predicted.
Just as the start produced here. In the opening five minutes, James Albery intercepted on half-way, found his way into the circle and drove forcefully across the circle where Will Calnan bundled home. He ran away in delight but even at high pace it looked to have been an illegal goal with his stick nowhere in sight. Indeed, video showed the ball going off his foot. Still, it was a statement.
So was Germany’s opener in the second quarter from a defensive turnover. Receiving and brilliantly taking a crash ball at the top of the circle, Ruhr swivelled and sent a reverse over Ollie Payne’s right shoulder, leaving the GB No.1 to kneel without so much as a save such was the venom of the shot.
Germany had won their last three Olympic meetings over 24 years, GB’s last win coming at Sydney 2000. It was fast becoming four when, with Germany’s first PC, they were awarded a stroke after a body block on the line. Ruhr sent Payne the wrong way, with a decisive low push to double the lead. In a half of few team circle penetrations – GB had four – Ruhr was proving an individual standout.
It also took until midway in the third quarter for GB to muster their first corner chances (three in succession) after Ward took down an aerial and found a foot. Germany snaffled all three. GB had yet to offer a shot on goal.
Ward and GB were holding the aces with their press and forced another corner in the final quarter, Ward’s flick saved well down to his left by Jean-Paul Danneburg.
With their fifth set piece, Furlong stepped up and his central flick this time beat Danneburg. With match possession now 50-50, GB were ramping through the gears. A mis-trap on the castle with their latest assault on goal saw Lee Morton take the ball wide and fire on the turn into the goal. It was quickly disallowed for not leaving the circle.
Yet, memories of last summer’s epic EuroHockey semi-final comeback from English sticks came to the fore. A green card to Liam Sanford didn’t aid the cause, however, with GB needing two goals to top the group. With 14 seconds left, Germany held firm as Furlong rattled the post and crossbar.
Shame it was two errors that gave Germany the goals -poor ball out of defence for the first one and silly hand in back for the PC award for the second – GB have been much better generally at keeping the ball and limiting the turnovers