A below-par present towards debutants Wales denying them a direct quarterfinal berth hosts India would look to deal with their attacking woes towards a plucky New Zealand for a spot within the last-eight stage of the FIH Males’s Hockey World Cup right here on Sunday.
India wanted to beat Wales — eight locations under them in world rankings — by a margin of eight objectives to prime Pool D and qualify immediately for the quarterfinals however the dwelling aspect may solely notch up a 4-2 win on Thursday, because the forwards lacked in ending.
India are actually up towards New Zealand within the must-win crossover match. The Black Sticks completed third in Pool C with a win and two losses.
At the moment ranked twelfth on the earth as towards India’s sixth place, New Zealand — who’ve by no means reached the semifinals — have additionally not executed something extraordinary within the event and the house aspect positively would begin as favourites in entrance of an anticipated jampacked Kalinga Stadium.
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India’s key midfielder Hardik Singh has been dominated out of the rest of the event after he did not get better from his hamstring damage sustained within the match towards England on January 15.
Hardik’s absence will likely be an enormous setback for India as they’ve been struggling within the attacking division, and contemplating the truth that they’re anticipated to run into defending champions Belgium within the quarterfinals in the event that they beat New Zealand.
Hardik, who scored a superb solo purpose in India’s 2-0 win over Spain within the opening match, will likely be changed by alternate participant Raj Kumar Pal. He didn’t play towards Wales.
In opposition to a Wales crew whom England and Spain had crushed 5-0 and 5-1, the Indians struggled to seek out objectives because the forwards put up a poor present.
The Indians merely did not get their technique proper towards Wales, who defended in numbers inside their very own circle.
The Indian defence, which had a clear sheet until then, conceded two objectives towards Wales, who’re ranked 14th on the earth.
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Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored his and the crew’s first purpose from penalty corners, whereas the skilled Akashdeep Singh saved India by scoring twice after Wales made it 2-2 on the finish of the third quarter.
Within the absence of Hardik, the efficiency of senior gamers like Mandeep Singh and Akashdeep will likely be key for the hosts.
India, little question, would begin as favourites towards New Zealand, however the Black Sticks is not going to be a simple aspect to beat.
India had crushed them twice (4-3 and 7-4) in October-November final yr through the FIH Professional League on the similar stadium right here however New Zealand are not any pushovers in world hockey.
“It is not going to be a simple match towards New Zealand. It was a really robust match within the first sport (in FIH Professional League) although the second was a bit simpler. Now we have to play our greatest,” Reid had mentioned.
Traditionally, the 2 sides had performed 44 matches towards one another and India had gained 24 of them whereas dropping 15. 5 video games had been drawn. The final time New Zealand beat India was a 2-1 win in 2019.
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New Zealand can be smarting after their 2-3 loss to Malaysia of their last Pool C match on Thursday. That they had crushed event debutants Chile 3-1 of their opening sport earlier than expectedly dropping to Netherlands 0-4.
New Zealand have some real world-class gamers of their ranks and the Indians should play their finest.
Defender Blair Tarrant, defensive midfielder Nick Ross and veteran striker Simon Little one are New Zealand’s key gamers. Penalty nook skilled Kane Russell is but to sound the board to date and can be gunning for objectives.
Sam Lana and Sam Hiha have scored two objectives every within the event and they might look so as to add extra.
Squads:
India: Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Abhishek, Surender Kumar, Manpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Krishan Pathak, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, PR Sreejesh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Varun Kumar, Akashdeep Singh, Amit Rohidas, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sukhjeet Singh.
New Zealand: Nic Woods (captain), Dom Dixon, Dane Lett, Simon Little one, Nick Ross, Sam Hiha, Kim Kingston, Jake Smith, Sam Lane, Simon Yorston, Aidan Sarikaya, Joe Morrison, Leon Hayward, Kane Russell, Blair Tarrant, Sean Findlay, Hayden Phillips, Charlie Morrison.
Match Begins at 07:00 pm IST.
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