Germans gain revenge over Britain

Britain's final match in Sydney ended in disappointment

Great Britain 0-4 Germany

Britain's mens hockey team had to settle for sixth place after they crashed to a 4-0 defeat against Germany in their fifth-place play-off match.

The comprehensive scoreline saw Germany gain some revenge for the defeat by Britain earlier in the week which saw them miss out on the medal rounds.

Germany were in front on 28 minutes when Christoph Eimer set up Bjoern Michel and a cracking reverse stick shot from Oliver Domke made it 2-0 just three minutes later after Calum Giles had lost posession at the top of the circle.

Oliver Domke fired Germany's second goal to kill off Great Britain

Britain fought hard for a lifeline in the second half but were undone again on 59 minutes when Christoph Bechmann put the game beyond doubt with a flick over the goalkeeper's head.

It was a day of mixed fortunes for Bechmann, whose running battle with umpire Steve Horgan in the first half resulted in a yellow card for the German.

But he proved a constant thorn in Britain's side after the break and Germany could have chalked up an even more emphatic scoreline had it not been for a striong of acrobatic stops from Great Britain goalkeeper Simon Mason.

Germany's revenge mission was completed when Tibor Weissenborn netted the fourth seven minutes from time.

There are probably about 50 things I would have done differently here

  Great Britain coach Barry Dancer

Despite the defeat, Britain were already assured of a place at next year's Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan, with the top six Olympic finishers all sure of their places.

Great Britain coach Barry Dancer said: "It's disappointing we lost but it doesn't have the same significance as the result against Germany in our match earlier in the tournament.

"There are probably about 50 things I would have done differently here, and the more I think about it the longer the list gets.

"But this group of players have given me great heart because they always bounce back."

Meanwhile, David Hacker, the Wales captain and veteran in the side at 36, said he would be retiring.

"It has been my life's ambition to play in the Olympic Games and I've achieved that," he said.