MCT: India lacking consistency and plan
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| India |
December 6, 2004
Outlook India
By Pargat Singh
A vastly improved performance was still not enough to get India a win as they lost 4-5 to Holland in their second match of the Champions Trophy in Lahore.
The encouraging part was that this performance came against a side of the calibre of Holland, but the sad part was that for the umpteenth time India lost a match they could have won, or at least should have drawn. In international hockey at this level, a single goal can spell the difference between fighting for a medal and being left out in the cold among also-rans.
Against Holland, one defensive lapse cost us a goal, and then one miss in closing stages meant even the draw eluded India.
Consistency, that one important word in sport, is what is missing right now. Once the team finds that, rest will follow in place. But for that word to happen, there ought to be a plan.
India and Holland have always had high scoring matches. And almost always the Dutch manage to pull off the win in the end. It happened in the Champions Trophy in Amstelveen in 2003 and now again in Lahore.
One major positive from this match was that the players did not let the first defeat against Spain linger on in their mind. They simply put that aside and played afresh day, and that is what is required of them.
They attacked well, defended well too, and had a lot of good moves to speak about. Even more encouraging was the fact that they did not give up at any stage. They kept fighting despite trailing at various points. Further, carrying on the pluses, they did not run out of steam in the last quarter.
Having noticed all the positives, it is imperative to mention that there were some areas of concern, too. I cannot understand, how a team's performance can vary so much in a matter of just 24 or 30 hours. This was like a different team from the one that took the field against Spain.
Another problem area for India is conceding soft goals, like the one which India was guilty of just before the half-time hooter when a defense lapse by Hapral Singh cost India a crucial goal. A soft goal like that leaves the others pondering over 'that goal'. This also means that it takes the team a little time to settle back into the game.
Also, I find it a little out of place to keep saying that this is a young team or an inexperienced one. In international hockey, there are no extra points for fielding a young team. And when people, be it the media or the team management, keep repeating the same thing, it seems like they are looking for excuses.
However, the team and the coach must not pay attention to whatever people say. Everybody has a job to do. The media will analyse each move and often criticise, but as long as the team and coach know their goal, they should work towards it.
They should simply put their heads down and play their best. Take each match one at a time and evolve a strategy at two levels -- a short term one for the tournament and the other for a long-term four-year period. That will automatically show results, as each tournament and each small period will help make the four-year cycle a fruitful one.
There is now a rest day, before India meet Germany. Germany for the past couple of editions has been using the Champions Trophy to groom players. Their main team ensures a place in Champions Trophy through performances in Olympics, World Cup and so on, and the Champions Trophy gives the upcoming players a great chance to play the best in the game to ensure a regular supply of top class players.
India still has three more games, against Germany, Pakistan and then New Zealand and good showings in these matches can still change their fortunes in this tournament
Too much emphasis on defence led to defeat By Pargat Singh It was an extremely disappointing start to India's campaign at the Champions Trophy in Lahore. Not because we lost the match heavily, but merely because the difference between the two teams was by no means as large as the 4-0 scoreline suggested.
First and foremost, getting into the Champions Trophy itself was a huge bonus for India. With Australia pulling out, India got a great chance to play some games against top class teams.
But sadly the first game showed that there really was no plan. The Indians were just not attacking and there were no planned moves. We also got no penalty corners and there were hardly attempts on the goal, all showing that the team never did show a scoring mood. In fact with such emphasis on defence, there would be chaos at some stage.
Even though we held the Spaniards goalless for the first 40-odd minutes, it was almost as if the team management was going to be satisfied with a draw. That is certainly no way to approach a match in such a high-class competition.
If Spain won, it was because they were more active on the field. In contrast, the Indians were defensive in their posture almost from the start. We began with just three forwards. I don't know whether that is an admission that we cannot score or was it a plan to simply keep the scores down and defend. So, what happened in the later stages of the match was that India began fading away in virtually all aspects and they were also showing desperation, and as a result Spain stepped up the gas and slammed three goals in closing stages and the scoreline suggested a one-sided match.
If the Indians do want to take back something from this match, it has to be Adam Sinclair's play. He was looking good and unfortunately, India's only scoring attempt taken by him was disallowed for being high. That looked harsh.
Alex Fabregas got the first goal in the 42nd minute and once that goal was conceded, the Indians became too desperate. And that backfired as Sandeep Singh found himself ejected with a tackle on Eduard Arbos. That further hampered the Indians and that's when the floodgates opened.
While that ejection did not directly result in more goals, the Indians looked demoralised. And in the final ten minutes, Arbos, Santiago Freixa (off a penalty stroke) and Juan Escarre scored once each to inflict a big defeat on India.
Coming to think of it, maybe the team was lulled into a false sense of confidence after we had drawn the two-match series against Spain 1-1. I got the feeling that Spain were trying out a few things here while in India and in Lahore, they were more assured and confident. The Indians have also succumbed to that old failing, of conceding goals in last quarter. It is something that is almost repetitive when we talk about Indian hockey, but nothing seems to have been done about it.
To be honest, with the team playing so defensive, and there being no attacks worth the name, there had to be defensive lapse and goof-ups and they are bound to result in goals. That's what happened exactly. Maybe, a change in tactics and little more aggressive play, which is more in Indian nature can help.
Further, Dilip Tirkey could do some plain talking to his teammates and tighten that defence, which in recent times has shown some vigour, but that was missing against Spain.
Spain deserved the win only because they were making moves and making attempts. Indians hardly had a look at the rival goal. Through the match India barely had a couple of chances and we got no penalty corners.
What the Indians now need to do is forget that this match took place and think afresh.
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