India head coach Craig Fulton highlighted the team's inability to score field goals following a 3-1 defeat to co-host Netherlands that left India bottom of Group E at the Hockey World Cup.
India's Hockey World Cup campaign is on the brink after a 3-1 defeat to co-host Netherlands in the second round on Saturday, August 22, 2026, leaving the team at the bottom of the Group E table.
The failure to convert field play into goals remains a major area of concern for India, who have scored just three field goals in the tournament—two of which came in a victory over World No. 12 Pakistan. Senior forward Mandeep Singh is yet to open his account in this edition of the tournament.
Reflecting on the match against the Netherlands, head coach Craig Fulton said it was the "best we’ve played stats-wise" in a major tournament against the side, but acknowledged the group was "bitterly disappointed" with the result.
"We played a good game with a good game plan. I thought we needed to score a goal in the first half. We created one or two really good chances but it wasn’t to be. When we came out in the third quarter [we were] okay. It was still fine," Fulton said. "We just couldn’t connect enough in the D to try and get a field goal. I think we won probably four [six] PCs and scored one. But [in] field chances, we needed the field goal. That was what we were pushing for."
Despite India conceding two counter-attacking goals—including an error by midfielder Manpreet Singh for the third goal—Fulton refused to single out players. "I think I can’t fault anyone’s effort and approach and attitude to doing what needed to be done today. It was a really, really tough game. I thought we did really well. We just needed to get ahead," he said.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored India's lone goal from a Penalty Corner while managing a back injury. Right after scoring, Harmanpreet went off the field to receive treatment, during which the Netherlands restored their two-goal lead. "He had a stiff back. He rested in training but it wasn’t serious. and then he played and he scored. But at the same time, we have to look after the human first and make sure he’s okay," Fulton noted.
To keep their semifinal hopes alive and pull off a turnaround, India will need to beat Argentina by four goals or more, while hoping the Netherlands defeats England on Monday.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Hockey. Photo courtesy The Hindu Hockey.