Pakistan looking for final win in World Cup hockey qualifiers

LILLE - Pakistan are looking forward to an emphatic win in the World Cup hockey qualifiers final here Sunday after winning four of its league matches convincingly.

Coach Shahid Ali Khan told IANS here Friday that his boys were all charged up for the final and are high on confidence after crushing Japan 6-1 at the Lille Metropole Hockey Club to confirm a place in the final.

Pakistan also beat Italy (5-0), Russia (5-0) and hosts France (4-2) in its earlier matches in the six-nation tournament.

“We are here to win this tournament and qualify for the World Cup and now need one more win to do that,” said Shahid.

“The boys are very, very confident ahead of the final and I’m sure they will give their best in it,” he stressed.

Pakistan, record four-time World Champion, has to win the Lille event to make the cut for the 2010 World Cup to be played in New Delhi Feb 28-March 13.

Shahid said that his team has improved over the months and is now looking to lock horns with top sides of the world like defending world champions Germany, Australia, Holland and Spain.

“We are an improved team and I’m sure we will do well in India once we qualify for the World Cup,” he said.