An ideal begin to their marketing campaign with a dominant win over Spain, however, India will face a stern check after they tackle an equally spectacular England of their second pool match of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in Rourkela on Sunday.
India outclassed Spain 2-0 with a close to flawless present of their opening Pool D match on Friday on the model new Birsa Munda stadium however England is an equally powerful facet, if no more.
The house staff can not drop the depth and high quality it confirmed in opposition to Spain as England too are on a excessive after a 5-0 thrashing of Wales of their opening match.
FIH World Cup 2023: India Start Title Pursuit With 2-0 Triumph Against Spain
Egged on by a packed crowd on the 21,000 capability Birsa Munda stadium, India showcased very good attacking hockey within the first two quarters and scored by native hero Amit Rohidas from a penalty nook earlier than Hardik Singh doubled the lead with an excellent solo effort.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh and his deputy Rohidas then produced a defensive masterclass — which galvanized head coach Graham Reid.
What: India vs England HWC 2023 Match
When: January 15
Where: Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela
Time: 7 PM IST
Harmanpreet and Co. would look to dish out one other sturdy defensive present in opposition to England, who scored no less than one aim every in all of the 4 quarters.
“It is sweet to get the primary recreation. What was pleasing was the defensive effort and we dealt with the ball very properly. There weren’t too many individuals who didn’t play properly. That is what you could win a World Cup. We have to proceed it within the subsequent recreation,” Reid said.
“The boys were able to take the ball out of the goal. We also got in front a lot and that was very important. We were first with the ball and that makes a lot of difference in this sort of game.”
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Veteran PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak had been additionally of their components in entrance of the Indian aim however their English counterpart Oliver Payne was no much less as he thwarted some decided efforts from the Welshmen, particularly within the remaining quarter.
The solely weak spot of the Indians was penalty corners as they may indirectly convert any of the 5 they secured in opposition to Spain.
Harmanpreet, the most effective participant and high scorer of the staff in nearly each event in recent times, had an off day by his excessive requirements, as he missed a penalty stroke in addition to failing to search out the goal from penalty corners.
He admitted his below-par present after the match, and might be seeking to make amends in opposition to England.
Not having the ability to convert penalty corners can value India pricey in opposition to a staff like England.
The Indian gamers may even need to be cautious about entering into the referee’s e-book as they needed to play the key a part of the ultimate quarter with out Abhishek, who received a yellow card for a foul.
A win in opposition to England is necessary as that may take India one step nearer to the quarterfinals. The hosts will fancy their possibilities in opposition to Wales, the bottom ranked facet within the group at fifteenth, to high the pool, thought of a gaggle of dying.
England are one rung above India at fifth in world rankings and there’s not a lot to distinguish between the 2 sides up to now 12 months and traditionally additionally.
Last 12 months, the 2 sides performed three matches in opposition to one another with their final recreation, performed on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, ending in a 4-4 draw. They performed out a 3-3 draw within the first leg of FIH Pro League earlier than India gained 4-3 within the second, each video games performed in April.
Nick Bandurak, who was the highest scorer within the 2002 CWG with 11 objectives, was heading in the right direction in opposition to Wales, as was Phil Roper who was one other prolific participant in Birmingham. England scored three subject objectives, the third from Nicholas Park whereas Liam Ansell struck twice from penalty corners.
Historically, India had gained 10 matches as in opposition to seven by England whereas 4 video games led to attracts.
Spain will play Wales in one other Pool D match right here on Sunday.
Full Squads
India: Abhishek, Surender Kumar, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (captain), 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
England: David Ames (captain), James Albery, Liam Ansell, Nick Bandurak, Will Calnan, David Condon, David Goodfield, Harry Martin, James Mazarelo, Nick Park, Ollie Payne, Phil Roper, Scott Rushmere, Liam Sanford, Tom Sorsby, Zach Wallace, Jack Waller, Sam Ward.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated news company feed)
