Bhubaneswar: As the Champions Trophy hockey tournament inches closer, the Germany men hockey team arrived today at the Biju Patnaik International Airport for the Hero Men’s Champions Trophy 2014 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The team stepped-out from the airport brimming with enthusiasm and confidence to face the best teams in the prestigious tournament.

Speaking after arriving at the airport, Head Captain Moritz Fürste said, “The team only met last week to prepare for the Champions Trophy. The top 8 teams of the world will be competing for the title amongst which Australia, being the defending champions, is going to be tough. Belgium and Netherlands are a good competition as well and I am sure India, with all the support from their home crowd, will be a surprise package for us. As we’ll be taking on India in the first match we are expecting a good crowd at the stadium.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the upcoming tournament, Head Coach Markus Weise said, “We have had a very little time to prepare for the Champions Trophy as the indoor season is going on back home and the players were all engaged in it. We are looking forward to the practice sessions and the practice matches scheduled from tomorrow onwards so that we get an opportunity to brush up our skills. This will help us a lot in the preparations ahead of the tournament. ”

Team Germany is placed in Pool B, along with The Netherlands, Argentina and the host India. Germany will play their first match against India on 6 December 2014 at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.

The match will be telecasted live on Ten Sports.