Olympic Champions produce the goods despite missing out on semi-finals 

Germany ended their Pool B campaign in positive fashion by claiming a 6-1 victory over Korea, although it proved to be only a small consolation to the fact that the Olympic Champions have missed out on the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1971. 

Argentina's 5-1 triumph against South Africa earlier in the day killed off any hopes of Max Mueller's men claiming a top two finish in Pool B, ensuring that Los Leones join host nation the Netherlands in the semis. The best Germany can now hope for is a 5th place finish, which would equal the position that they achieved at the 1971 World Cup in Barcelona, Spain. 

As it stands, Germany occupy 3rd place in the pool, with 4th placed New Zealand needing a huge victory over the Netherlands in the evening game if they are to set up a meeting with Belgium in the 5-6 Classification Match.  For Korea, the result confirmed a fifth place finish in Pool B, setting up a 9-10 Classification match-up against India. 

The result of the Argentina versus South Africa contest seemed to be playing heavily on the minds of the Germany players in the early stages, with the world number 2 struggling to find their usual rhythm. 

However, that all changed in the 19th minute when Christopher Wesley guided a high cross-shot from Florian Fuchs into the roof of the Korean goal, giving Germany a 1-0 lead and sparking a period of dominance. The advantage was doubled three minutes later thanks to a tap-in from Benedikt Fuerk, before Martin Zwicker crashed home a glorious backhand strike to put Germany 3-0 up ahead of half time. 

Korea - who were missing the experienced Lee Namyong through injury for the third game in succession - were much improved in the second period, although German wunderkind Christopher Ruehr almost added a fourth with a penalty corner flick that crashed against the right post.  

Korea's persistence paid off in the 51st minute when Nam Hyunwoo fired home a penalty corner, although Germany's three goal advantage was restored when 2013 FIH Young Player of the Year Ruehr set up ace-marksman Florian Fuchs, the 2012 Young Player winner. 

Oliver Korn added a fifth in the 65th minute, cleverly lifting the ball over onrushing substitute keeper Kim Jaehyeon after a penetrating run from Thilo Stralkowski before Christopher Zeller buried an overtime penalty corner to finish the match scoring. 

"I was quite pleased with the performance of the boys as right before the game as it was quite clear that we would miss out on the semis, which is a huge disappointment". Said Germany coach Markus Weise after the match. "To go out and perform like that is a really good achievement."