Nothing can illustrate the blinding pace at which India performed higher than the truth that even the high-definition cameras positioned across the Kalinga Stadium couldn’t correctly seize the transfer.
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Down 2-3, India have been piling stress on Spain, making repeated inroads into their ‘D’. One such transfer got here from the left-wing, when a cross was performed in however discovered no Indian stick. As it sailed out of play, India requested for a evaluation, searching for a penalty nook for a push by a Spanish defender on one of many attackers.
Raghuprasad RV, the tv umpire, pored over a number of angles and quite a few replays. But after 5 or so minutes, he turned to the on-field umpire, Javed Sheikh, in dismay – the pace of India’s actions and the tempo on the cross was so excessive that it was all however a blur, even in slow-motion replays ! If ever there was any doubt concerning the pace at which India operates, these have been put to relaxation.
However, it is essential for India to appreciate all that tempo is of no use except they mix it with persistence. The 5-3 loss to Spain within the FIH Pro League on Sunday, a day after they secured an unconvincing 5-4 win, underlines this.
Like a sports activities automotive that goes from 0 to 100 within the blink of an eye fixed, India unfailingly transitions from protection to assault inside seconds. But virtually each time, they appear in such a rush that they’re unable to choose the suitable move, leading to both the ball going out of play, or them shedding possession.
The latter has induced extreme issues. Every time India have misplaced the ball within the two matches in opposition to Spain this weekend, they’ve appeared like conceding a aim. One of the most important issues for coach Graham Reid, who has been making an attempt new gamers in numerous positions, would be the ease with which groups have been opening up his defence.
Sunday was the third time for the reason that Olympics that the Tokyo bronze medalists allowed 5 targets in a match; France and Japan are the 2 different groups who’ve inflicted such miseries on the Indian defence.
India ended its Olympic medal drought by taking part in with a sure degree of calmness, particularly within the attacking third, which helped them in making the suitable choices in crunch moments. The different issue was defensively, the workforce appeared structured and disciplined. These components have been lacking within the current video games India have performed.
Against Spain on Sunday, India would really feel goalkeeper Suraj Karkera may have finished higher in saving not less than a few targets he conceded, provided that the pictures within the first and fourth targets virtually went proper by way of him. Karkera, nevertheless, may have been shielded higher by the protection in entrance of him, which went lacking on most events.
One of the takeaways for India from this match would be the performances of Sukhjeet Singh, who dribbled previous the Spanish defenders to attain a aim on debut, and his strike-partner Abhishek, who continues to impress after debuting earlier this month.
In the 2 kids, India could have discovered gamers who can rating good discipline targets. But what the workforce wants is a few crafty defenders, who can cease the workforce from leaking targets.
Women lose 4-3
Fragility throughout turnovers is what let down the ladies’s workforce as effectively.
India got here again from a aim down thrice within the match however Xantal Gine scored the successful strike for Spain with seconds left to play, making one other comeback inconceivable. India misplaced 4-3, their first defeat of the Pro League.
Despite the loss, there’s a lot to construct on for Janneke Schopman from Sunday’s match. Savita Punia was as soon as once more rock-solid in aim, even saving a penalty stroke, however India made one too many defensive errors, which overshadowed the additional shift put in by the attackers.
Two out of the three targets have been indicative of the number of skill-set the workforce possesses. Debutant Sangita Kumari opened the scoring for India by choosing the ball simply across the ‘D’ on the suitable, turning round her marker, dribbling previous two defenders and avoiding a sort out by an onrushing third earlier than slotting it previous the goalkeeper. The aim confirmed why Sangita is rated extremely on the home circuit for her scoring skills.
And whereas her aim was all about ability, Salima Tete displayed one other dimension of the ladies’s workforce: pace. Salima received the possession in entrance of her dugout and marched forward, quickly shifting gears as she approached the ‘D’. With no participant capable of match her pace, Salima discovered herself with a variety of time and area to get a shot in. And as an alternative of going for energy, she selected placement as she squeezed the ball previous the goalkeeper on the close to submit.
Unfortunately for them, this wasn’t sufficient to get a consequence.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
