India head coach Craig Fulton and midfielder Manpreet Singh criticized the team's defensive errors and missed opportunities following a 2-4 Hockey World Cup defeat against England.
India hockey head coach Craig Fulton lamented his team's missed opportunities and poor defensive performance following a 2-4 defeat against England in their hockey World Cup match.
England's four-goal surge pushed the total number of goals conceded by India this year to 44 across 18 matches. Reflecting on the match, Fulton noted that despite a good first half, India was caught on a counter-attack that led to Nicholas Bandurak's goal. He added that India failed to capitalize on key moments in the third quarter while acknowledging that England played up to their status as World No. 3.
Midfielder Manpreet Singh echoed the head coach's concerns, emphasizing the necessity of solid defense and clinical conversion against top-tier opponents. Manpreet stated that maintaining a strong defense and converting chances into goals are vital when playing against a good team.
To progress to the second round of the tournament, India must secure a victory against Pakistan on Wednesday, August 19. Fulton stated that the team will be motivated for the crucial clash, adding that the players must show composure and perform better on the ball in the final third.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.