Already going through an enormous backlash after failing to make the quarter-finals, India may find yourself with their worst-ever putting within the FIH Men’s World Cup in the event that they lose their Ninth-Sixteenth classification match in opposition to Japan on Thursday.
A loss to the 2018 Asian Games gold medallists may push the hosts to play the Thirteenth-Sixteenth classification match on Saturday in opposition to a yet-to-be-decided opponent.
India’s worst-ever putting and end within the 14 earlier editions of the World Cup is Twelfth and final — at London in 1986.
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In the continuing version of the World Cup, 16 groups are competing as in opposition to 12 in 1986. While India could not end final even when they lose to Japan on Thursday, however the loss will take the hosts to their worst putting ever, which can be between 13 and 16.
India had crashed out of ongoing World Cup after dropping the crossover match to New Zealand, ranked six locations under them, in sudden demise at Bhubaneswar on January 22.
The hosts had squandered a two-goal lead on two events because the match resulted in a 3-3 stalemate in regulation time. The Harmanpreet Singh-led aspect misplaced the shootout 4-5.
During the 1986 World Cup in London, the workforce led by Mohammed Shahid had misplaced to Poland, Spain and Australia. They beat Canada and drew with Germany to complete fifth within the six-team preliminary league spherical.
India then misplaced to New Zealand within the Ninth-Twelfth classification match and have been crushed by Pakistan, returning dwelling with the picket spoon.
India should play their finest hockey in opposition to Japan within the classification match, although the reigning Asian Games champions too have had an peculiar World Cup right here.
Japan, who defeated Malaysia in 2018 for his or her first Asian Games gold in Jakarta, completed final within the four-team Pool A right here after dropping all three video games — in opposition to Belgium, Germany and South Korea — conceding 12 and scoring two.
India fared much better, ending second in Pool D with two wins — in opposition to Spain and Wales — and one draw (in opposition to England) earlier than crashing out within the crossover recreation.
Japan have emerged as a robust continental powerhouse in hockey, beating a full-strength India 5-3 within the Asian Champions Trophy semifinal in December 2021 after dropping 0-6 within the preliminary spherical.
While a second-string India defeated Japan twice and misplaced as soon as within the Asia Cup in May-June final yr, the matches have been fiercely contested.
Historically, India have dominated Japan with 26 wins in 32 matches since 1932. Japan have received simply thrice, with three matches ending in attracts.
But, under-fire India coach Graham Reid and his workforce will take Japan evenly at their very own peril.
The hosts can take some confidence from the truth that they’ve finished effectively on the newly-constructed Birsa Munda Stadium, beating Spain 2-0 and holding England to a goalless draw earlier within the event.
Squads:
India: Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Abhishek, Surender Kumar, Manpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Krishan Pathak, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, PR Sreejesh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Varun Kumar, Akashdeep Singh, Amit Rohidas (vice-captain), Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sukhjeet Singh, Rajkumar Pal.
Japan: Koji Yamasaki, Shota Yamada, Yusuke Kawamura, Yamato Kawahara, Seren Tanaka (captain), Kentaro Fukuda, Taiki Takade, Takuma Niwa, Raiki Fujishima, Ken Nagayoshi, Hiro Saito, Ryosei Kato, Ryoma Ooka, Masaki Ohashi, Kaito Tanaka, Kisho Kuroda, Masato Kobayashi, Takashi Yoshikawa.
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