Last Updated: January 14, 2023, 19:46 IST
Graham Reid (Hockey India Image)
A win in opposition to England, ranked fifth on the planet, on Sunday will assist India put one foot within the quarterfinals
England shall be more durable opponents than Spain whom India outclassed 2-0 of their opening World Cup match and the house workforce can’t decrease its guard within the second group match on Sunday, head coach Graham Reid mentioned.
Local hero Amit Rohidas and midfielder Hardik Singh scored in India’s dominant win in opposition to Spain on Friday. A win in opposition to England, ranked fifth on the planet, on Sunday will assist India put one foot within the quarterfinals as they’ll fancy their possibilities of beating Wales of their last Pool D match.
India are ranked sixth on the planet whereas Wales are fifteenth.
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“We are up in opposition to England subsequent and it will likely be more durable, they’re ranked greater than us. We understand how robust England are within the Commonwealth Games,” Reid said.
Last year, the two sides faced each other three times with their last match played at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, ending 4-4 in the group stage. They played out a 3-3 draw in the first leg of the Pro League match before India won 4-3 in the second, both games played in April.
“So, we will try to continue our good work (from the Spain match). We did really well defensively (against Spain), we have to continue it,” Reid added.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh agreed that England could be robust opponents and the house aspect must play their finest hockey to beat them.
“We are taking it match by match. Spain is completed now and our focus is on England and we’re planning for that,” he said.
“Winning penalty corners is very important and we can be better in PC conversion. We are hoping we will do better in that regard,” mentioned the drag-flicker who was not at his finest within the match in opposition to Spain.
He couldn’t discover the goal within the 5 penalty corners India bought and likewise wasted a penalty stroke.
“Once once more, we want workforce effort. We should make up for many who don’t do this properly on a specific day.” Rohidas, who started learning his hockey from the Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela, said execution of team plans will be key to win matches.
“I started from the Panposh sports hostel here and playing at home is a wonderful feeling. The support from such a large crowd motivated us but once we are on the pitch we try to focus on the game,” he mentioned.
“It is a workforce effort and due to the workforce I bought the possibility to attain in entrance of the house crowd which included my relations. We aren’t below strain and the important thing to our success shall be to execute the plans of the workforce.” Rohidas was in the perfect place to slam the ball home past a hapless Spain goalkeeper after Harmanpreet’s drag flick rebounded from the stick of a defender. Hardik later made a solo run to score India’s second goal.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated news company feed)
