India

Held to draw after 3-0 lead, undone by France’s tactics

New Delhi, December 28: Sooner or later, the men who run Indian hockey will have to decide what they want to do with the players sitting on the sidelines. India suffered their second consecutive embarrassment today, drawing 3-3 with France after leading 3-0 — while some of the best talent was watching it on TV at home.

India’s situation was summed up best by France captain Antoine Moreau. ‘‘We played Indian Airlines on Sunday, and the national team before the Olympics, and I don’t know why some of the IA players, like Dhanraj and Gagan, are not in the national team. But then, that’s not my problem, is it?’’



French coach Bertrand was more direct: ‘‘Indian is the land of hockey still, but this team does not frighten the opposition.’’

This was a match that the hosts shoud have won. Instead, they merely sent out the signal that the experienced players out of the squad for various reasons are essential if this team wants to end its losing spree.

India have traditionally been poor in speed and strength compared to the Europeans. On Tuesday, the difference was stark; the Indian midfield and attack were too slow and wasted several chances to score on the break. Prabhjot Singh’s quick runs down the flanks were sorely missed.

And when the players were unable to dribble past even one or two opponents, the need for Dhanraj Pillay was felt all the more.

The match fell into two halves: the first 35 minutes belonged to India and the rest to the visitors. Going on the attack from the beginning, India raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half, and the difference was visible. This is what was expected from an India team playing to a plan.

However, it seemed they left those plans in the dressing room at half time because they ceded the match, post-break, to France. ‘‘We played defensively and were trailing, so I told the boys to go out for the attack, since we had nothing to lose’’, Bertrand said.

It’s not the first time this has happened to India. There have long been concerns over how the opposition, having studied the team, changes strategy midway to great effect. The French made full use of their video analyst to do just that.

Slowing the Indian attack, forcing more penalty corners and giving less leeway to the hosts, France took the upper hand. Though Tushar Khandekar made it 3-0 in the 38th minute, France levelled through three penalty corners by Frederic Soyez, and came close to taking lead with a fourth. It was one-way traffic.

After the match, coach Jagbir Singh admitted there were mistakes, but also blamed the umpires for the result. ‘‘I hope I get a magic stick on the 31st to turn this team around’’, he said wryly. For Indian hockey’s sake, we hope, too.

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