As predicted, a very close game with just one goal in it. India has had the benefit of a full preparation, money spent on the best of everything but still lost (1-2) to a Pakistan team that hasn't played at the international level for 18 months and has had training camps that few players turn up to - yet they win. What's wrong, India!
I was expecting to see a classic India-Pakistan game going from end to end, many shots at goal and great saves by two very classy 'keepers. Instead what I witnessed was two teams making too many mistakes and India playing a 1990s style of hockey.
Sardar, who was ranked in the last Champions trophy in Melbourne as No. 2 in the world, is now playing a style that clearly he is not happy playing and even worse, not suited to. He is one of the pre-eminent attacking central midfielders relegated to a hack defensive style, unable to deliver to the strikers those critical passes that split teams apart.
The first quarter showed an even game being played with both teams probing the other's defence but both teams were solid, resulting in each team having few shots but the goalkeepers making some good saves. The second quarter showed a similar style but each team now starting to give away easy possession and more gaps in each team's defence showing.
The second half was much of the same with Gurbaj Singh and Kothajit Singh showing a lot of class and giving the forwards plenty of opportunity to score, but mistakes under pressure continued to cause problems. Pakistan scored a field goal through Muhammad Umar Bhutta in the 38th minute to set the tone for India to start realizing that they need to increase the tempo to get this goal back.
A draw would not have been enough to top the group and India did get the equaliser with a touch-in goal by Nikkin Thimmaiah in the 53rd minute to level it at 1-1. Pakistan showed their class by putting India under pressure and wilting in the last few minutes of the game to score a goal with 6 minutes to go through Muhammad Waqas and held on the win the game 2-1.
Not a classic India versus Pakistan match but two teams desperate to win with an experienced Pakistan team winning against a youthful Indian team.
India now have a tough road ahead. They are capable of winning this tournament but need to start playing their natural game, not this manufactured European style.
India play China in their last match, and the Chinese will not be a pushover. Even if China win, India will still go through to the semi-finals with a much better goal difference and face South Korea, the 8th ranked team in the world.
Pakistan have a much easier run to the finals and play Oman in the last match of the round. They will then probably face Malaysia. So it could still all be set up another India-Pakistan final.
Let's hope India can find their way back and play Indian style hockey.
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