Image credit: Hockey India
India suffered a 0-2 defeat against defending champions and world No. 1 Netherlands in their first second-round game on Friday. Team Matches Won Drawn Lost Goals scored Goals against Goal difference Points Netherlands 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 6 China 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2 Australia 2 0 1 1 3 5 -2 1 India 2 0 1 1 2 4 -2 1 “The team showed good intentions, but they should have capitalised on the opportunities.
However, the loss did not end their chances of making the last four. China have two points, while the Netherlands have already booked their semifinal place after winning both their second-round matches against Australia and India. In that situation, goal difference could decide which team takes the remaining semifinal spot. So, an India-Australia draw would leave the qualification race open and make the teams’ goal difference important. We don’t get many chances against such teams. Now, I consider the match against Australia like a quarterfinal, where a win will take us to the semifinals.”
NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s hockey team will play Australia on Sunday knowing that nothing less than a strong result will keep their hopes of reaching the FIH World Cup semifinals alive.