Luke Littler and Luke Humphries were England’s dream team at the World Cup in Dart. So why did things go wrong against Germany in the quarterfinals?
Littler is the reigning world champion, while Humphries beat the 18-year-old to seal the Premier League Glory at London’s O2 Arena last month, so the world’s two top players would always be hot favorites to win the park hassle.
But toward all odds, They slid to an 8-4 defeat in the second round at Eissporthalle in FrankfurtWhere Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, spurred by a partial home crowd, sealed an extensive victory.
Showdown did not start well for England after they were booed by German fans as they went out to the stage to cool ‘iconic’ Vindaloo ‘.
Littler started nervously and the Germans took the first two legs, but his 123 checkout got England on the board before a 64-finish smooths it on 2-2.
Warrington Wonderkid, however, missed three darts with a double in the fifth stage to allow Pietreczko to win it with a 106 finish and another in the sixth when the Germans restored their advantage, and after Humphries hit 25 rather than Bull in 122, they went into the break 5-2 ahead.
Pietreczko took 101 out after the resumption before Germany went up 7-2, and although Littler and Humphries took the next two, they eventually bent as a return of only four doubles from the 11 chances they created, on average only 93, which eventually turned out to be very very much.
Story of the tape
Mardle: to play for your country is different than playing for yourself
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Wayne Mardle looks back on England’s shock departure to Germany in the second round of the World Cup in Dart
Wayne Mardle, who spoke with Sky Sports’ Emma Paton, welcomed Germany for their relentless nature at the stage where conditions worked in their advantage and pointed to the fact that Littler and Humphries were unable to gel as a team, which turned out to be their ultimate downfall.
“It was amazing. It was unique. And what was astonishing was the way Martin and Ricardo went around their business from Ben one to the end,” said ‘Hawaii 501’.
“They never excelled at any time with, like an 11 or 12 darts against the thrown. But when they had their chances, they took them. They never fell off in a millisecond.
“Every time England won a leg it was as if it was earned. It was really earned.
“Luke and Luke undoubtedly felt the stress and stresses of being massive favorites and to continue with how good Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis were, they just made it look easy – that’s how difficult World Cups can be.
“The pressure came at one point, Luke and Luke, and they excited. Their opponents did not, and full credit to Martin and Ricardo there.”
He added: “To play for your country is different than playing for yourself. To play with a teammate is different than playing just alone.
“The rhythm you get in is different. Luke Humphries after winning the past year with Michael Smith, I thought I would give him confidence, knowing what it is about. But when you’re under pressure you’re under pressure.
“You can’t just think, ‘I’ve been here before, that’s fine.’ You can’t do it.
Littlers frustration in Germany is growing after previous audience questions
Littler has had trouble playing in Germany before (picture: Jenny Segers, PDC Europe)
Littler, who passes the moniker ‘The Nuke’, has often been the subject of booing in Germany and even threatened to boycott the country when he was knocked out of the German Dart Grand Prix by Gian van Veen in the semi -finals.
“I had a small head loss, as some of us players do,” he said after his loss to the world’s youth champion. “I just don’t get it and I can’t explain it. Of course you do your walk-on, but as soon as I got on stage, I started to booed.”
He added: “I was booed in Hildesheim last year against Peter Wright on the European tour. I flyed, and then they started booing me and I lost.”
“Of course the Germans must not like us English.”
Later he posted on Instagram: “Shouldn’t have been in Munich, but still had to play. Next in Germany for me is Dortmund and I am glad to say.”
Did conditions play a factor?
Did the conditions at Eisporthalle Arena in Frankfurt play a factor in the defeat of England?
Security concerns have been raised around Eissporthalle Arena in Frankfurt with Irish player William O’Connor, who fears a player will collapse on stage because of the heat.
O’Connor claims there is a risk of a medical emergency due to the burning temperatures.
“It’s so hot on that stage, it’s hard to play your best darts,” he claimed. “It’s really hard. It’s terrible. We have to change the room. Or maybe put the air conditioner on because someone will fall on that stage.”
He added, “I’m not exactly the biggest man in the world, but I can tell you it’s hot at that stage. And it’s not good. The faster you are out of that stage, the better.”
Teammate Keane Barry said, “The darts slipped in my hand and it was just so sticky, but it’s the same for everyone.”
Schindler: Both Lukes have fought!
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Martin Schindler said that Germany ‘believed’ in itself when they shocked England to reach the quarterfinals
Schindler, who insisted that they had a chance of victory against the favorites, said, “I was right. We believed in ourselves and I think we have set a solid performance and obviously the double 16s from Ricardo as it matters. We are very happy to go through.
He added: “I think it was definitely one of the best atmospheres we’ve had in a World Cup. Obviously we have to say we don’t approve the flute and booing.
“For us, we have to say that it won’t be easier for us because our opponents are being booed or whistled. So we still have to go out there and do and we’ve done that.
“Both Lukes have fought as it seems, and I think the day is done now for us and we are glad we won it.”
Dream teams don’t always take silverware home
Brazil 1982 was considered the greatest team never to win the World Cup
A reminder that there is no guarantee of winning titles in any sport and Littler and Humphries’ shock exit is a perfect example of it.
The Brazilian football team at the World Cup in 1982 is remembered as one of the biggest teams never to win the tournament, while in Basketball, the American Olympic team in 2004, packed with NBA stars, including Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson and a young Lebron James, fell their first game to Puerto Rico with 19 points and lost twice before he ended up with bronze with bronze.
At the Rugby World Championship in 1999, Christophe Lamaison France inspired France with a 33-point Salvo with no response that destroyed Mighty Jonah Lomu and his New Zealand page to reach the semi-finals.
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