Flowing Game Need Of The Hour

The Indian team raised hopes only to dash them onceagain. They got into an early lead but then gave it all away with a defensiveapproach that is becoming hard to understand in a team that is capable ofplaying flowing hockey.

The trademark of sub-continental game from India andPakistan is smooth, aggressive and attacking hockey. And that is precisely whatIndia is not playing right now. They have forgotten their own strength andfalling back all too often, and unnecessarily at that.

The net result of this was a 2-3 defeat in the bronzemedal play-off match against Pakistan yesterday. This was the third successivetime that Pakistan had beaten India in a bronze medal match at the ChampionsTrophy.

The final was won by Spain who stunned a somewhatover-confident Dutch side and halted their march to a hat-trick of ChampionsTrophy titles.

Both Spain and Holland are playing wonderful hockey andhave shown great preparation with an eye on the long term, like the 2006 WorldCup and the 2008 Olympics.

While one tries to figure out what is wrong with Indianhockey at this stage, one also needs to emphasise that Pakistan too are havingproblems in becoming a world-beating side. However, at the same time, Pakistanare sticking to their basics, of flowing hockey and attacking. Sure they areconceding goals, but they are also scoring a lot.

One must admit that the Indians are severely lackingforwards, and, worse, we are playing with just three or four forwards whosefirepower in any case is rather weak.

The Indians are missing too many chances upfront, andthen leaving too many gaps in the rear. So, the defensive tactics are clearlynot working for us.

When a new coach comes to take care of the team, thereis always this gestation period, and he needs time to settle down and understandthe nature of hockey the boys play and are capable of. So, surely, the teammanagement has by now realised that the Indians are always vulnerable when theygo on the defensive.

Time and again, we have seen that Indian teams areunable to hold on to the lead when they go on the backfoot. Add to that the lackof ability to score and we have a lot of problems in hand.

It is easy to pass on the excuse that this is a youngteam that is being built up for the future. But that is what everyone has beensaying for a long time. Each time a new coaching set-up comes, that is what weget to hear.

Many of the players from this team will be representingIndia at the junior World Cup next year. And when these players, who have nowbeen asked to play defensive hockey, combine with other juniors, who are playingattacking hockey, we will once again have a lot of problems as there will be aclash of styles within the same team.

Whatever kind of hockey a country plays, it has to besimilar in nature across all age groups. Simply because it is the juniors whoare expected to fill into the shoes of the senior team when the time comes.

Sandeep Singh scored both goals for India while SohailAbbas, Rehan Butt and Mudassar Ali Khan struck for Pakistan.

Pakistan conceded the first goal because of a lapse indefence as they gave away a penalty corner, which Sandeep converted.

But Pakistan got back the goal through Sohail soonafter. Goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza was said to have recovered from his hamstringinjury and was brought back into the game, but he was more subdued and not aseffective as in the previous matches

Though they were glimpses of vintage Indo-Pak hockey,the fact of the matter is both teams are struggling in defence and strikepower.They are missing chances and allowing too many gaps at the back.

The Indian defence conceded seven penalty corners inthe match. However, stalwart Sohail could not manage more than one, and Mudassarconverted one towards the end. They also missed many chances on the field.India, on the other hand, scored twice through set pieces, but wasted many otherchances.

One word about that brilliant goal by Rehan Butt. Heshowed remarkable presence of mind and speed while connecting a rising andpowerful cross from Shakeel Abbasi and deflecting it in.

Also, there was news that Sohail is calling it a day.May be he feels with the next Asian Games two years away and Olympics four yearsfrom now, he may not last it. Going out at the top is better than being sent outunceremoniously as many senior and good talented players have learnt in thesub-continent.

Now, with no major big event slated for the seniors inthe near future, it is time for the hockey officialdom to sit down and chalk outa road map for the future.

PTI