Hockey: Players feeling the heat up against the best

The harsh realities of playing at the highest level of hockey are making it difficult for the New Zealand men's team at the Champions Trophy.

"There are no easy matches but neither should there be," coach Kevin Towns said after his team's 3-1 loss to hosts Pakistan in their second match in Lahore.

"If you make mistakes at the back you get punished."

Towns, while disappointed at New Zealand's second loss in the tournament, was encouraged by the improved effort against Pakistan.

"We again started poorly but we at least held on and by the end of the first half we were more than competitive."

The teams went to the break locked at 0-0 and when New Zealand took the lead - Ryan Archibald scoring from one of the two penalty corners they won in the match - the 18,000-strong crowd rallied behind the home team.

The response was immediate. Caught out by a quickly-taken free hit, the New Zealand defence was opened up and, with the aid of a deflection, the equaliser scored.

"Then, within three minutes, Sohail Abbas scored twice from two of the three penalty corners they had," Towns said. "At 3-1 we were up against it."

Towns said it would not be any easier against unbeaten, top-of-the-table Spain in the early game today.

David Kosoof sat out the game against Pakistan, but will return for today's game along with Dharmesh Puna, if passed fit.

New Zealand have slipped to the bottom of the points table after games with unbeaten Holland and Pakistan.

That will be followed by the much-anticipated clash between Pakistan and Holland, which could play a big role in finding one of the finalists.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it is a Spain-Holland final," Towns said. "Our focus has to be elsewhere, with the target our games against India and Germany - teams we will need to beat to avoid the fifth-sixth playoff," said Towns.

Towns said the surface was improving by the day and the umpiring had given no cause for complaint.

In the late game today, India meet Germany - a game in which New Zealand will have more than a passing interest.