The 33rd Champions Trophy got underway at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium today, but it wasn't a happy homecoming for the Black Sticks as they went down 2-1 to Germany.
New Zealand were always going to be up against it playing the Olympic and German champions but they had their fair share of chances and, on another day, could have upset the world's second-ranked side.
But the Germans were good for their victory and the result would have been more comfortable had they not shown such profligacy with their seven penalty corners.
New Zealand, the seventh-ranked side in the tournament, hadn't beaten Germany in four previous Champions Trophy meetings, though they showed no intimidation and were buoyed by the return to the side of the mercurial Ryan Archibald, fresh from a 15-month international absence.
But it wasn't enough for the hosts, and they now head into a must-win game against sixth-ranked Korea tomorrow afternoon, with a tricky encounter against the Netherlands following on Tuesday.
New Zealand coach Shane McLeod said he was disappointed with the result, but admitted his opponents deserved credit.
"It was quite a hard-fought encounter, which it always is against Germany. They're a strong defensive side and you don't become Olympic champions by playing bad hockey.''
McLeod rued some missed chances, especially during a period of control his side experienced in the first half.
"It would've been nice for us to take some opportunities we created but, for the same money, Germany missed some opportunities as well.''
That was the story of a free-flowing, entertaining first half, with no shortage of chances for either side.
Germnay earned the first of three first-half penalty corners in the second minute, and captain Jan-Marco Montag nearly gave the Germans the perfect start but his drag flick hit the right frame of the New Zealand goal.
Germany's early ascendancy was rewarded after nine minutes, when some fine play on the left wing by Christoph Menke presented an opportunity for Thilo Stralkowski. The striker made no mistake and diverted Menke's ball past New Zealand 'keeper Kyle Pontifex to put the Germans in front.
The goal seemed to bring the Black Sticks to life, and they started to cause the German defence some problems, particularly out wide. That was where the equaliser came from when, after appearing trapped while hugging the left sideline, Simon Child delivered a pinpoint cross for Hugo Inglis to poke home the ball.
The second half commenced quite cautiously, with the at times frantic pace of the first spell not initially carrying over.
The Germans retained possession with relative ease and, as McLeod confirmed after the match, the Black Sticks appeared content to share the spoils.
But that wasn't to be the case and Germany edged in front with 10 minutes left. The goal came almost out of nothing, with a relatively regulation ball driven into the New Zealand area by Jan Philipp Rabente deflected on target by Christopher Wesley.
New Zealand could have pinched a point with five minutes remaining, but a drag-flick from their second penalty corner was blocked on the line by a German defender.
Dean Couzins, in his first game captaining the Black Sticks, said he was less than satisfied with the result and the performance of his team.
"If we look inwardly at ourselves, I don't think we played quite as well as we should've. Germany did well to create a bit of pressure but if you look back at the two goals they scored, we're a little but disappointing with that.''
Couzins held no doubts, though, New Zealand would be ready for Korea tomorrow.
"We're confident playing the Korean style, we feel we know it reasonably well,'' he said. "We just have to tighten a few things up from today, keep going forward, and we'll be right.''
In earlier results from pool A, world number one Australia came from behind to edge Spain 3-2, and Great Britain did likewise in beating Pakistan 2-1.
Germany 2 (Stralkowski 9, Wesley 59)
HT: 1-1.
