Stats Speak: Minnows China avoid defeat in debut match in World Cup
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By B.G.Joshi (in Kalinga Stadium Bhubaneswar)
Man of the match Chinese Talake Du, who netted equaliser goal(2-2) against mighty England. Photo (courtesy Hockey India)
China is the 25th nation to have entered in the men’s World Cup. World-ranked 17th, China also made a record not to lose the debut match. Pakistan, Netherlands, Germany, India and Spain are the five teams who made their debut with wins in the inaugural edition of World Cup (1971), all these teams have won medals too in different editions. Silver medalist (1986) England made their debut in 1973 with a win. Noteworthy debuts were of Poland who held Pakistan to a draw in 1975 and South Africa who drew with Germany in 1994. Here are the details: