Game of the games, India and Pakistan hockey clash today

Circa, February 28, 2010: An inspired Indian team, spurred by a flamboyant Sandeep Singh, came up with a rare show of brilliance, to trounce Pakistan 4-1 in a World Cup match.

The pace, energy and the co-ordination displayed by the team rarely took one back to the good old days of Indian hockey. Chief coach Jose Brasa was hailed as a national hero — his boys were the toast of a country starving of success in a sport it once ruled.

Cut to present and one is forced to wonder if that February night performance was a flash in the pan. Going by the team’s performances in the first two matches of the Games — first against Malaysia and then against Australia — then one can perhaps easily infer that India has made little progress since then.

But as is the case against most of the matches against the arch-rivals, India tend to save their best for them. The venue will be the same, teams are the same but the stakes this time are much higher. It will be a winner-takes-all encounter at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium on Sunday night.

And if Pakistan were pleasantly surprised by the glorious
reception they received at the Opening Ceremony on October 3, they can expect anything but that from a sell-out crowd when the sides resume their rivalry. The equation is quite simple: India have to win to advance to the semifinals. Though tied on points, Pakistan’s superior goal-difference means that they will go through in the event of a draw.

In a match like this, defence will be the key. And it is precisely in that area that India have been found wanting.

“You win matches with a strong defence. We have made some silly mistakes, which we cannot afford at this level. We have worked on it. At the practice matches, it looked fine. Unfortunately, that form is not seen in the matches,” Brasa said.

Out of the five goals India conceded against Australia on Thursday, two were labeled by Brasa as child-like. So furious was he with his players that he went on to say that even children could have scored against that kind of defending. And the side has had very little time to work on its mistakes.

Pakistan, on the other hand, looked very impressive against Australia on Saturday. The world champions were made to sweat before notching up a 1-0 win to confirm their semifinal berth. Going by that game, it will be difficult for the hosts to breach the Pakistani backline, led by captain Zeeshan Ashraf.

Their defence was ably supported by custodian Imran Shah against Australia. The fact that the Indian forwardline has not been able to create chances in their previous matches will also serve as a boost to Pakistan.

India have relied heavily on penalty corners, but have not made the best of that too. India managed a good spell of around 20-25 minutes against Australia, dominating the proceedings with a champion-like attitude.

But all that hard work counted for nothing, as they failed to take advantage from it. “If we do not convert the moves into goals, we will never be able to win matches. There are many aspects we need to focus on, but the two that top my list is defence and scoring goals,” Brasa admitted.