India men’s hockey head coach Craig Fulton has called on his side to tighten their defense and refocus as they prepare for crucial second-round World Cup fixtures against Netherlands and Argentina.
India head coach Craig Fulton has called for his side to refocus ahead of a 'new tournament' in the second round of the men's Hockey World Cup, beginning with a match against the Netherlands on Saturday.
Following a mixed pool stage performance that saw India finish second behind England, the team needs two wins to maintain a strong chance of qualifying for the semifinals. Addressing the situation, South African coach Fulton stated, "We’re a little bit behind the eight ball because we didn’t take the three points through. But at this level as well, any team can beat any team. That doesn’t mean we’re out. We have to take care of our two games. We’ll just go one game at a time and let’s see what happens."
India's defensive record has been a point of concern, with eight goals conceded—the worst defensive figure among the remaining top eight teams in the tournament. On the attacking front, while Harmanpreet Singh's form keeps India potent on penalty corners, the team has scored only three goals from field play, ranking ninth among the 16 participating teams.
The upcoming matches present a stern test against dangerous sides Netherlands and Argentina. In recent meetings against these teams, India managed just a single 3-2 victory over the Dutch while losing three other fixtures with a cumulative aggregate scoreline of 4-15.
Fulton highlighted the need to sharpen pressing and counterattacks while retaining structure. Reflecting on their previous game against Pakistan, Fulton noted, "We played well offensively and then let them back in the game…Now, we have a totally different opposition, that if we give them too many opportunities, yes, they will punish you. We’re playing well going forward, and we need to keep improving on the defence and keeping the confidence in going forward."
On the team's low field-goal tally, Fulton cited defensive setups by opponents that pack seven to eight players in the D, adding, "It’s a [matter of] small composure… We’ve got different plans for both teams, but at the same time, we’ve got to implement our plan."
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Hockey. Photo courtesy The Hindu Hockey.