Patchy, inconsistent and lack of execution. These are the phrases used often by head coach Graham Reid throughout India’s disastrous FIH Men’s World Cup marketing campaign, which undid the workforce’s historic bronze-winning feat on the Tokyo Olympics.
The selection of adjectives from the veteran coach and former Australia worldwide was indicative of the battle of his wards on this World Cup. This regardless of having 12 gamers from the Tokyo Games squad.
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For a workforce that had come into the match with hopes of a primary podium end after the 1975 gold, crashing out earlier than the quarterfinals was nothing wanting a debacle.
This workforce was ok to not less than attain the quarterfinals, if not the semifinals. But who would have thought that the world quantity six dwelling aspect would lose to twelfth ranked New Zealand within the penalty shootout of the crossover match after being forward by two objectives on two events.
With crores of rupees being spent on the workforce’s coaching, publicity excursions and help employees salaries, it should have performed higher.
This was the fifth worst efficiency for the nation within the historical past of the World Cup. The finest India can end on this match is ninth, for which they may start with their classification match in opposition to Japan on January 26 in Rourkela.
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India is likely one of the 4 groups to have taken half in all of the 15 editions of the World Cup they usually had completed under ninth on 4 events — in 1986 (twelfth), 1990 (tenth), 2002 (tenth) and 2006 (tenth). They had completed ninth in 1998 and 2014.
In the final version, India had completed sixth after shedding to the Netherlands within the quarterfinals.
The causes for the early exit are quite a few, as Reid himself stated on the post-match press convention on Sunday. Two most important causes had been the abysmal charge of penalty nook conversion and the dearth of ending by the forwards. Adding to this was the inconsistency in defending.
The woes in penalty nook conversion was too evident as India scored simply 5 objectives from the 26 penalty corners they earned throughout 4 matches. It is lower than one-fifth success charge which is unacceptable for a workforce searching for to transcend the quarterfinals.
Of the 5 objectives from the PCs, solely two had been from direct drag-flick — one from captain Harmanpreet in opposition to Wales and the opposite from Varun Kumar in opposition to New Zealand. The remaining three had been scored from the rebounds — from the sticks of Amit Rohidas, Shamsher Singh and Sukhjeet Singh.
Harmanpreet took most of India’s PCs however may rating simply twice. Though penalty nook conversion charge has gone down for a lot of the groups lately because of higher defending and use of apparatus, India’s common of objectives from PCs is just too low as in comparison with different groups.
Lack of variation in taking penalty corners and an excessive amount of reliance on Harmanpreet value India expensive. In the Tokyo Olympics, India had a nice drag-flicker in Rupinder Pal Singh together with Harmanpreet, they usually had scored 10 objectives from 31 PCs with a wholesome one-third conversion charge.
Harmanpreet had scored six from the PC in Tokyo to emerge as one of the crucial deadly drag-flickers within the wold. He was named the FIH Player of the Year within the final two years on the premise of PC conversions and stable defending, however type abandoned him, not less than in drag-flick, on this World Cup.
Then comes “inconsistency” in both defending and attacking, which Reid rightly pointed out.
The Indian defensive unit did well in the first two pool matches — against Spain and England — with two consecutive clean sheets. India beat Spain 2-0 while holding a strong England to a goalless draw.
It was harakiri after that as the Indian defence conceded two goals against 14th ranked and tournament debutants Wales in the last pool match before letting in three against New Zealand to end their campaign.
India squandered a two-goal lead twice — 2-0 and then 3-1 — to finish 3-3 at the end of regulation time before losing 4-5 in sudden death against the Black Sticks.
The retirement of Rupinder and Birendra Lakra after Tokyo hit India hard as they were replaced in the World Cup team by the inexperienced Jarmanpreet Singh and Nilam Sanjeep Xess.
Former captain Manpreet Singh, who will turn 31 in June, was also not at his best in the middle of the park.
Reid refused to comment when asked if it was the best available team, saying that he will not speak about it as his side is yet to play two classification matches.
The lack of finishing is the main reason behind India’s debacle as the hosts failed to convert too many chances.
Against New Zealand too, India were clearly the dominant side with much more circle penetration but all those were not converted into goals.
“Ultimately, it is the lack of execution (in finishing),” Reid stated after the New Zealand match, summing it up.
Midfielder Hardik Singh’s absence within the final two matches, after his hamstring damage within the second recreation in opposition to England, proved pricey. The similar has been acknowledged by team-mate Akashadeep Singh.
Hardik had scored an excellent purpose from a solo effort in opposition to Spain within the opening match. The Indian assault lacked selection in his absence in opposition to Wales and New Zealand.
Hockey India president and former captain Dilip Tirkey agreed, saying “we wasted too many scoring alternatives and PCs.”
It is not known yet whether heads will roll in the team or in the selection committee after the debacle.
Harmanpreet, who took over from Manpreet after the Tokyo Olympics, asserted that his mediocre performance in penalty corner conversions was not due to captaincy pressure but just a lean patch in a prolific career.
Reid, however, added a new dimension to the whole episode, saying that the team needs a mental conditioning coach. His comments meant that his wards struggled to cope up with the mental aspect of the game and the pressure of expectations in a home World Cup.
Reid is not known for giving excuses after a bad performance, but the onus is on Hockey India and the Sports Ministry to take a call.
Whatever the reasons for this debacle, some experts have doubted that this Indian team would reach the semifinals. They had hoped that the vociferous home support could push the hosts into the last-four stage.
But after the 4-2 victory over tournament newcomers Wales — when India needed an eight-goal win to directly qualify for the quarterfinals — doubts started to creep in the minds of the most ardent supporters of the game.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated news company feed)
