A Big win is India’s goal

Bhubaneswar: Sometimes in sport, a win is just not enough. India face such a prospect as their progress into the FIH World Cup quarterfinals not only hinges on their victory in the final Pool D outing against Wales at the Kalinga stadium here on Thursday night, but the margin as well.
India’s goalless draw against England in Rourkela on Sunday threw the pool wide open and three teams are now in with a chance to top the group and earn a direct last-8 berth. The arithmetic is clear: England and India have four points from a win and a draw, but the former top the group with a superior goal difference of three. Spain too are in contention with three points from their 5-1 win over Wales.
So, India will have to score a convincing win against Wales — the number of goals to be determined only after England’s match against Spain. Luckily, India play the last match of the day and will know what they need to do to top the heap. If India don't top the group, they will have to take the arduous route of crossover matches to the quarterfinals.
On the pressure of the scoreboard, head coach Graham Reid said, "It's probably an advantage knowing what your objective is. I don't think we will get transfixed about it. But we need to play normally and move the ball around. The message to the team will be: Keep it simple, stay patient.”
Prior to that, chief coach Graham Reid will have some sorting out to do as he must sandpaper the rough edges in his game plan. Since its arrival from Bhubaneswar on Monday, the team has been working on penalty corners, one of their problem areas. In two matches thus far, India have earned 13 penalty corners but have only converted one, a stunner from Amit Rohidas in the opener against Spain.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh, the mainstay drag-flicker, has drawn a blank, while Jarmanpreet Singh and Manpreet Singh have had zero success. India will have no choice but to get their act together if they want to journey deeper into this tournament.
While the defenders have played a key role in keeping a clean slate, the strike force has failed to complement their efforts. Dribbling in the striking circle, holding on to the ball unnecessarily and lack of quick turn of feet are proving to be the Achilles heel for the hosts. Mandeep Singh and Lalit Upadhyay will have to take ownership and lead the frontline.
With the likes of midfielder Rupert Shipperley, Jacob Draper and penalty corner specialist Gareth Furlong, Wales can be a handful and the Indian coach stressed on the fact that India are not taking them lightly. “Wales is a very good team. They play like England and can hurt you if you give them too much oxygen,” added Reid.
GUARDED ABOUT HARDIK
While lynchpin Hardik Singh is all but ruled out of the contest, the Indian think-tank revealed little about his availability or the findings of the MRI he underwent on Tuesday. The unavailability of the in-form midfielder, who sustained the injury in the match against England, will mean Reid has to redraw his strategies.
Asked about Hardik, Reid said, “Watch this space tomorrow. The prognosis did not look good after the match but the MRI was much better than what we hoped and it gives us a bit of hope of him playing in the tournament again.”