Bhubaneswar: Defending Hockey World champions and world No 2 Australia will square off with Rio Olympic Games gold medallists and the top-ranked Argentina side at Kalinga Stadium in the summit clash for the 2017 Hockey World League (HWL) title today while hosts India will fight for the Bronze medal match when it entertains strong Germany.
The evening will kick off with the closing ceremony of the 10-day sporting extravaganza that began on December 1. Later Australia and Argentina will clash for the Gold medal match at 7.30 pm before India lock horns with Germany at 5.15 pm.
On Saturday, Australia, the current Hockey World League title holders edged past Germany with a 3-0 score line thanks to goals from Dylan Wotherspoon (42'), Jeremy Haywards (48') and Tom Wickham (60').
Being touted as the favourites to claim the trophy with their impressive form in the finals, the Australians opened their campaign slowly with a 1-1 draw against the hosts India followed by 2-2 tie against Germany and then another 2-2 draw against England. But once in the knockout stage, the men in yellow made a strong statement by back to back thumping wins against Spain and Germany with 4-1 and 3-0 score line respectively in the quarter and semi finals.
While the Argentinians who had a quite tournament so far have managed to sneak past teams with some narrow wins. The number one side began their campaign with a loss by 2-3 against Belgium followed by a mouth watering draw with 3-3 against the Netherlands and then another loss against Spain.
In the knockout stage, the South Americans, however found some form and managed to hold to a win against the English side in the quarter finals followed by a narrow 1-0 win against India in the semis.