FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup: England, India win their last matches

The hosts India and England won their last round of group matches to march into the knockout round of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup at iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar here today. While England by finishing at the top of Group D has assured itself a direct place in the quarter-finals, India, in spite of its 4-2 win over winless Wales, failed to finish at the top. It now has to play crossover matches to progress to quarter-finals.

Though both England and India finished with seven points each, England took the spot with a better goal difference. It scored nine goals without conceding any while India aggregated six goals in its three games and conceded two against Wales to finish at number two position. The outcome of today’s game was inconsequential as it remained number two in the group. It needed to score eight goals without conceding any to head the group.

As exp[ected India did not field injured Hardik Singh. He was on the ground when the team started its warm up. He, however, was without a stick. He was seen cheering team mates. At the time of introduction of ceremony, he came with a stick but went to sit with the reserves on the sidelines.His absence was largely felt during the game.

Akashdeep Singh, who smacked two brilliant “D” top strikes, was adjudged man of the match on a day when the Wales surprised Indian defence with two penalty corner conversions while India could  also manage only two, including one in the dying moments of the game when skipper Harmanpreet Singh stuck with a deep low flick. In all India got seven penalty corners.

Aware of the style and strategy of Wales,the Indian team was unable to break the solid Wales defence in the first half as it struggled hard to open scoring. It was Shamsher Singh playing his 50th international who opened scoring for India in the 23rd minute by retrieving a rebound and shot into the net from the stop of the striking circle. The goal sent the packed Stadium wild. The roars got a boost three minutes into the second half when Aklashdeep Singh after intercepting a brilliant D top pass from Mandeep Singh smacked home a lightning shot that had the Wales goalkeeper beaten. Once India had a 2-0 lead, the crowd started demanding more as it cheered all good moves of the home team. However, it was Wales that stole the thunder for most of the time in the third quarter.  Goals by Furlong Gareth in the 43rd minute followed by a flawless conversion by Jacob Draper in the 45th minute had the stadium in pin drop silence. Though India managed to beat the Wales defence when Abhishek had a powerful reverse fick from D top  but the goal was disallowed by video referee after Wales asked for a review. Earlier, it was Akashdeep, who repeated his earlier drill, this time from the  right flank, to notch up the home team’s third goal.Before the game concluded, India had the consolation of scoring its fourth goal when skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored his first direct goal from a penalty corner.

Earlier, England was a convincing 4-0 winner over Spain in its last game.

Phil Roper opened the scoring for England in the 11th minute following a penalty corner. Nicholas Bandurak and Liam Ansell scored third and fourth goals for the English to take it to the top of the group.

Now India and Spain will play crossovers with teams finishing second and third in group C. India takes on New Zealand and Malaysia plays Spain.

Prabhjot Singh