Position play in hockey World Cup for India

Expectations of India reaching the semifinals of the World Cup were always far-fetched. Fighting it out for the fifth to eighth places will not be too bad for a team currently ranked 12th in the world and that too with a dismal record in recent years.

But for that too, they need to put up their best in the last pool B match against South Africa, which will eventually decide the final play-offs. The African champions may not be easy opposition, especially after their 4-3 victory over Pakistan on Saturday.

India coach Jose Brasa is not disappointed with the team’s showing thus far, but expects the players to do well against South Africa, failing which they may be left fighting it out for even lower places.

“I never claimed that India would do wonders in the World Cup. I have always aimed at the team doing well at the Asian Games at the end of this year, because that is a reasonable expectation,” Brasa said ahead of Monday’s engagement with the 13th-ranked side.

India did not win a medal at the 2006 Asian Games and failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. This year is a crucial one for Indian hockey, what with the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games lined up in October-November.

“I have been with the team for seven months, and that is too short a time to work up something really good. As I see it, the team is improving,” said the Spaniard.

Losing to South Africa would mean a fight for the fifth place in the pool as England, Australia and Spain already have two wins or more, while South Africa would also reach two wins, leaving India with just one.

If Pakistan lose to Australia, as is expected, it would leave the two sub-continental teams at fifth and sixth places. Currently, Pakistan (one win so far) are eight goals in deficit, while India are just four in arrears, giving the home side a clear advantage of four goals.

According to championship rules, the fifth-placed teams of either group will have a play-off to decide the ninth and 10th rankings; the fourth on either side will clash for the seventh and eighth places, and so on.

A loss in Spain’s last match against England too is not likely to push India above the fourth position as the Olympic finalists have a two-goal plus advantage, keeping them a handsome six goals ahead of India.

But it becomes a possibility in case of big wins for India and England. That would round off the tournament well for India, who had finished 11th the last time around.