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 Men’s Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar 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 residence facet may solely notch up a 4-2 win on Thursday, because the forwards lacked in ending.
India at the moment are up towards New Zealand within the must-win crossover match. The Black Sticks completed third in Pool C with a win and two losses.
Currently ranked twelfth on the planet as towards India’s sixth place, New Zealand — who’ve by no means reached the semifinals — have additionally not performed something extraordinary within the match and the house facet positively would begin as favourites in entrance of an anticipated jampacked Kalinga Stadium.
India’s key midfielder Hardik Singh has been dominated out of the rest of the match after he did not get well from his hamstring damage sustained within the match towards England on January 15.
Hardik’s absence might be a giant 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 an excellent solo purpose in India’s 2-0 win over Spain within the opening match, might be changed by alternate participant Raj Kumar Pal. He didn’t play towards Wales.
Against a Wales staff whom England and Spain had overwhelmed 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 planet.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored his and the staff’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.
In the absence of Hardik, the efficiency of senior gamers like Mandeep Singh and Akashdeep might be key for the hosts.
India, little question, would begin as favourites towards New Zealand, however the Black Sticks won’t be a simple facet to beat.
India had overwhelmed them twice (4-3 and 7-4) in October-November final yr through the FIH Pro League on the identical stadium right here however New Zealand are not any pushovers in world hockey.
“It will not be an easy match against New Zealand. It was a very tough match in the first game (in FIH Pro League) though the second one was a bit easier. We have to play our best,” Reid had mentioned.
Historically, the 2 sides had performed 44 matches towards one another and India had received 24 of them whereas shedding 15. Five video games had been drawn. The final time New Zealand beat India was a 2-1 win in 2019.
New Zealand could be smarting after their 2-3 loss to Malaysia of their last Pool C match on Thursday. They had overwhelmed match debutants Chile 3-1 of their opening sport earlier than expectedly shedding to Netherlands 0-4.
New Zealand have some genuinely world class gamers of their ranks and the Indians must play their greatest.
Defender Blair Tarrant, defensive midfielder Nick Ross and veteran striker Simon Child are New Zealand’s key gamers. Penalty nook knowledgeable Kane Russell is but to sound the board thus far and could be gunning for objectives.
Sam Lana and Sam Hiha have scored two objectives every within the match and they’d look so as to add extra.
The Squads (from): 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 Child, 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 Starts at 7pm IST.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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