Germany win Hockey World League semi-final event with comfortable win over hosts Argentina

Germany's Christopher Rühr bagged a two-goal salvo as his side won the Hockey World League semi-final event by beating hosts Argentina ©FIH

Olympic champions Germany silenced the home crowd as they won the Hockey World League semi-final event with a comfortable 4-1 victory over hosts Argentina in Buenos Aires.

The German side overcame The Netherlands in a repeat of the London 2012 gold medal match in the last semi-final and they were always favourites, despite the Argentinians having home advantage.

Both Germany and Argentina had already secured their Rio 2016 Olympic Games birth by virtue of reaching the final.

Christopher Rühr gave his team an early lead as he launched a mazy solo run before he squeezed the ball home from a tight angle.

Argentina pressed forward in search of an equaliser but it never came and Germany doubled their lead after the break when Niklas Wellen rounded off a superb team move with a lofted finish.

The hosts then managed to claw their way back into the match as they were awarded a penalty stroke which was well converted by Juan Gilardi to cut the deficit to one.

The Olympic gold medallists were not about to let this victory slip, though, and they restored their two-goal advantage thanks to Rühr’s second of the match as he robbed Carlos Ibarra of possession before beating the Argentina goalkeeper in a one-on-one.

Still, the home side launched attack after attack, desperate to keep their chances of winning the final alive but they were caught out by a swift German break as Florian Fuchs bagged their fourth goal to seal a commanding triumph.

“We dominated the first half allowing Argentina not a single shot on goal,” two-goal hero Rühr said.

“We defended very well, the second half was more emotional but in the end we deserved the victory.

“It was a great game from us.”

Olympic champions Germany proved too strong for Argentina and silenced the home crowd with a comfortable 4-1 win — Olympic champions Germany proved too strong for hosts Argentina with a comfortable 4-1 win ©FIH

Elsewhere on the final day of the event in the Argentinian capital, The Netherlands sealed the last available Hockey World League final spot as they ensured a third place finish with a thumping 6-0 win over Canada.

The Olympic silver medallists dominated from the off and they went ahead after two minutes thanks to Constantijn Jonker, before Billy Bakker smashed home from close range.

Mink van der Weerden then converted a penalty shot on the stroke of half-time and Robert van der Horst added a fourth shortly after.

Robbert Kemperman got his name on the scoresheet for his side’s fifth and the rout was complete when Jonker bagged his second of the match.

Elsewhere, Spain beat New Zealand 3-1 to claim fifth while seventh went to South Korea by virtue of a 1-0 win against Japan.

The Hockey World League final is due to place in India from November 28 to December 6.