A disappointing pool campaign fresh in their minds, India will have to raise their game by leaps and bounds as Great Britain await the hosts in the quarter-final of the Hockey World League Final here
A disappointing pool campaign fresh in their minds, India will have to raise their game by leaps and bounds as Great Britain await the hosts in the quarter-final of the Hockey World League Final here on Thursday.
India are still searching for their first win in the tournament, having finished last in Pool B with a draw and two losses.
Great Britain, on the other hand, topped Pool A with two wins, which includes an upset victory over world champions Australia.
India finished last in Pool B but still progressed to the quarter-finals thanks to the format which allows all the eight participating teams to make it to the knock-out phase.
India’s game has been erratic in the tournament. After a lacklustre showing against Argentina, the Sardar Singh-led side produced an inspired performance to hold Olympic champions Germany 1-1 before witnessing another off day in office, losing 1-3 to the Netherlands.
India coach Roelant Oltmans was candid enough to admit that inconsistency is an area which the team needs to address.
“We have been good in certain phases. Against Germany we played really well. There’s room for improvement,” Oltmans said.
“Every attack from us has been 100 per cent. The boys are playing the way I want them to. But too many times we lose possession somewhere on our way.”
The midfielders have been steady in the three matches but it is the finishing from the strikers, which is an area of concern.
Argentina will play Belgium in the other last eight clash on Thursday.
Great Britain have impressed all and sundry with their brilliant display in the pool stages.
Even though they are here without the services of some experienced players like Barry Middleton and Ashley Jackson, Britain looked threatening.
Meanwhile, the Nether-lands had to toil to register a 2-0 win over a fighting Canada in the first quarter-final on Wednesday.
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