The Indians played catch-up hockey in the entire 70 minutes and did not look convincing at all in all departments of the game. To add to it, India's perennial problem, a fragile defensive line continued to hurt them badly.

India will now fight it out against Japan in the fifth to eighth place classification matches.

India, however, could take heart from the fact that they put up a much-improved performance to eke out a fighting 3-3 draw against higher-ranked New Zealand in their last match to finish third in Pool B with two points.

With the draw, their second in the tournament after their 4-4 result against Ireland in the campaign opener, India ended their pool engagements with two points from three matches.

Addressing a joint media conference after the talks, Khurshid said both countries have vast scope for cooperation in sport and youth affairs.

The fitter and faster Germans completely dominated the match with the Indians left to defend their citadel in their own half for most part of their last Pool B match.

India showed urgency but it was too little, too late as they suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in their FIH World League Round 3 match here on Saturday.

Going by the rankings and present status of both the teams, India, undoubtedly, will start underdogs in Saturday's encounter. After missing out on a point against Ireland, the Indians can hardly afford to relax as a loss against the Dutch can jeopardise their chance of sealing one of the three berths up for grabs in next year's World Cup.

Defending champions Punjab edged past Odisha 2-1 to lift the third Hockey India Junior Men National Championship at Motil Lal Nehru Sports Complex, Rai here on Thursday.

Rupinderpal (40th, 66th minute) converted two penalty corners in the second half to save India the blushes after Akashdeep Singh (21st) and Shivendra Singh (47th) scored two field goals.